FRIDAY 6TH JANUARY 2023

NFIU Unveils Fresh Guidelines to Bolster CBN’s Cash Withdrawal Policy

New framework prohibits cash withdrawal from public accounts Outlaws payment of estacodes, overseas allowances to civil, public servants in cash Cash withdrawals from public accounts to be treated as money laundering offence effective March 1, 2023 James Emejo and Kingsley Nweze in Abuja The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) yesterday released new guidelines aimed at mitigating

money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation of weapons among others.

The provisions of the framework also prohibit cash withdrawal from public accounts and ban

the payment of estacodes and overseas allowances to civil and public servants in cash – in an apparent drive to complement the recent efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to tackle

terrorism-related financing as well as promote a cashless economy.

The Enforcement, Guidelines, and Policies for Mitigation of Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, Proliferation of Weapons

and Prevention of Predicate Crimes, was signed by the NFIU Director/ Chief, Mr. Modibbo Hamman Tukur, and made available to THISDAY. The NFIU also said the

enforcement and/or implementation of the guideline by all public authorities, institutions, and organisations in the financial Continued on page 6

Tinubu: Obasanjo Unfit to Recommend President for Nigerians... Page 33 Friday 6 January, 2023 Vol 27. No 10132. Price: N250

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INEC: Presidential Poll Results to Be Collated at ICC in Abuja Chuks Okocha in Abuja

JUSTICE UKEJE'S 80TH BIRTHDAY DINNER...

L-R: Senator Emmanuel Andy Uba; General Ike Nwachukwu, his wife, Mrs Gwen; the Celebrant and first female Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Rose Ukeje, OFR; Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, his wife, Bunmi Anyaoku; Rear Admiral Alison Madueke and Captain August Okpe, during Hon Justice Ukeje's 80th Birthday dinner held at the Civic Centre Lagos... yesterday.

KUNLE OGUNFUYI

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, announced that the February 25 presidential election results would be collated at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

INEC also named its chairman, Continued on page 6

Chants of ‘Atiku, Atiku’ as Makinde Launches Second Term Campaign G-5 members committed to PDP, Says Ortom At Oyo rally, aggrieved governors refuse to name presidential candidate to support Ikpeazu’s kinsmen pledge support for Atiku PDP PCC mocks Tinubu's rally for inability to speak on policy issues at Kano Kano PDP: APC candidate tired, has nothing to offer, he should go home and rest Finally, Wike approves Atiku’s campaign rally in Rivers Chuks Okocha in Abuja, Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, referred to as G-5, were yesterday greeted with surprise in Ibadan during the official launch of Governor Seyi Makinde’s second term bid, as shouts of the party’s presidential candidate’s name, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, rent the air, to the embarrassment of the governors, including Makinde.

The governors had fallen out with their party’s leadership over the outcome of the presidential primary that produced Atiku. Thus, his name was, obviously, the last thing they wanted to hear among their supporters at Thursday’s rally.

Continued on page 6

L-R: Chief Executive Officer Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva, Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor, Group Chief Executive Officer NNPC Limited Mallam Mele Kyari and Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, during a visit to troops of Operation Delta Safe fighting crude oil theft, in Warri, Delta State...yesterday

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PAGE SIX CHANTS OF ‘ATIKU, ATIKU’ AS MAKINDE LAUNCHES SECOND TERM CAMPAIGN But when supporters were asked to vote other candidates of the party, to the exclusion of the former vice president, the crowd at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, venue of the rally, reacted swiftly in open resistance. The deafening cries of “Atiku” was a major blow to the G-5, comprising Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Makinde, and Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

However, contrary to the widely held belief that the five governors were working against the main opposition party, Ortom, yesterday, said the group was still committed to the party. He said they were working round the clock to ensure that PDP won all elections in their respective states.

In Abia State, PDP supporters in Ikpeazu’s hometown, affirmed their backing for Atiku, in yet another humiliation for the dissenting governors.

But in Rivers State, Wike, finally, approved Atiku’s campaign in the state after an initial resistance.

The G-5 governors, who were all in attendance, in their separate remarks at the re-election campaign tagged, “Omituntun 2.0: Sustainable Development," kept mum on the candidate to support in the

forthcoming presidential election.

The Ibadan rally was well attended by party members from within and outside the state, hundreds of thousands of citizens, however In his speech at the rally, Wike, who is the leader of the G-5, said, “Vote for Seyi, vote for the House of Representatives, vote for the House of Assembly. The other one, Seyi, would talk to you. No be so?”

But in response, the crowd started shouting, “Atiku, Atiku, Atiku…”

Even when Makinde mounted the podium and tried to douse the strong opposition chants by shouting “PDP”, the response from the crowd was “Atiku, Atiku, Atiku…”

However, Ortom said the G5 governors and other members of the party working with them in the integrity group were "committed members of the PDP in their various states" and would work to ensure that candidates of the party in their states were elected in the forthcoming polls.

The Benue State governor stressed that the problem of PDP at the national level was being prolonged by the failure of the party’s leadership to deploy its internal conflict resolution mechanism to settle issues that

arose after the national convention.

Ortom was full of praises for Makinde’s commitment to the development of Oyo State. He expressed optimism that the people of the state would return him for a second term.

He thanked the people of Oyo State for their support for PDP and Makinde, pointing out that their massive turnout at the campaign flag-off was an indication that the election in March was a done deal for the party.

Ortom said the G5 governors’ decision on the presidential candidate to support would be made public “at the appropriate time". He declared that apart from the presidential election, the G5 governors would work for all PDP candidates in the 2023 general election.

The Benue State governor stated, "We have challenges with our national leadership. They have failed to resolve the internal crisis in the party arising from the party's national convention. We shall make our resolve on this known at the appropriate time."

Ortom asked the people of Oyo State to compensate Makinde with their votes for his good performance in the past three years and seven months by reelecting him in the March 11 election.

NFIU UNVEILS FRESH GUIDELINES TO BOLSTER CBN’S CASH WITHDRAWAL POLICY sector, financial institutions, and designated non-financial institutions will commence on March 1, 2023.

Tukur said the Unit supports the CBN’s circular on cash withdrawal limit which is in harmony with the law, provided in Section 2 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 (MLPPA, 2022), adding that the new guidelines will support the efforts of the apex bank.

He said the discontinuation of cash withdrawal in naira and foreign denominations from public accounts at federal, state, and local government levels were in compliance with its statutory responsibility under Section 3(1) a - s and Section 23 (2) a of the NFIU Act, 2018, and other provisions under the MLPPA, 2022.

The NFIU boss said the guidelines became necessary considering the provisions and enforcement requirements of the law, particularly Sections 2 and 13 of the MLPPA, 2022, Section 26 of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, (POCA) 2022, and the CBN circular on the revised cash withdrawal limits, issued pursuant to its powers under the CBN Act, 2007, and Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020.

He said the Unit noticed in the process of its financial transactions analysis that civil servants were, “becoming more and more vulnerable to money laundering and its predicate offences due to their exposure to cash withdrawals from public accounts.”

According to him, the NFIU analysis spanning 2015 to 2022, showed that the federal government, states, and local governments withdrew N225.72 billion, N701.54 billion, and N156.76 billion respectively – all in cash.

The NFIU chief executive explained: “The cash withdrawals directly contravene the provisions of the MLPPA, 2022 and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 (POCA, 2022) which provide the legal framework setting limitations on cash transactions and sanctions for infringement of the provisions.

“Section 2 of the MLPPA, 2022 restricts cash payments of a sum exceeding N5 million (or its equivalent) for individuals, and N10 million or its equivalent for a body corporate. Section 19 of the MLPPA, 2022 imposes a fine of at least N10 million or imprisonment for a term of at least three years (or both), in the case of individuals; and a fine of N25 million in the case of a body corporate. Section 26 of POCA, 2022 makes provision

for the seizure and detention of cash over the prescribed amount under the law.”

Tukur explained that most cash withdrawals from public accounts were in excess of N5 million and N10 million respectively which was prohibited and liable to imprisonment upon conviction.

He stated that, “The breach of this particular provision became so rampant because there are heavy withdrawals of cash from public accounts necessitated by inflation and changes in the economy, and also due to payment for overseas travels in terms of estacode and other overseas allowances.”

He stressed that by the principles of Section 2 (Cash Transaction Outside Financial Institutions Limit), and Section 13 (Use Of New Products, Business Practices and New Technologies) of the MLPPA, 2022, cash withdrawals must be prohibited in order to mitigate the risk of exposure of public servants to these crimes and protect the financial system from continuous abuse.

However, he noted that, “In the meantime, this is not only indicting chief accounting officers of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) but in the context of Nigeria’s democracy, it gives room for adversaries, political opponents and antagonists to exploit the law against their competitors, or to their individual political advantage.”

The NFIU director further maintained that, “Considering the provisions of Section 13 of the MLPPA, 2022, which depicts that in the light of the vulnerability stated above and risk, there must be a redesign of products and technologies to respond to new circumstances and developments which directly applies in this particular case, for the protection of the innocent public servants against terms of imprisonment.”

He said, “Sections 3(1)(e),(n), and (l) as well as 23(2)(a) of the NFIU Act empower the Unit to respond in line with our primary duty and issue guidelines, advise, monitor and report compliance on this to law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities.

“We support the CBN circular on cash withdrawal limit which is in harmony with the law, provided in Section 2 of MLPPA, 2022. This guideline will support the efforts of the CBN.” He said going forward, any individual or corporate body who violates the provisions of these guidelines is in direct contravention of provisions of Section 2 of MLPPA, 2022, Section 13 of MLPPA, 2022, NFIU Act, 2018 and Section 26 of POCA, 2022.

According to him, such violations would be liable to necessary prosecution and penalties from the effective said date, adding that cash withdrawals from public accounts would be treated as a money laundering offence.

He stressed that any public officer or any citizen who comes into contact with the provisions of these guidelines with its attendant principles shall as a matter of obligation promote the implementation and success of the guidelines.

Tukur added that although the guideline is meant to enforce the provisions of Sections 2 and 13 of MLPPA, 2022, to discontinue cash withdrawal from public accounts and establish a clear audit trail, and mitigate corruption and other vices in public expenditure – it is also aimed at supporting law enforcement and the entire criminal justice system by strengthening transparency in the investigation.

He said, “By these guidelines, the local government N500,000 cash withdrawal limit with regards to public accounts and instituted funds are hereby discontinued. These guidelines supersede and repeal the N500,000 cash withdrawal limit of local government funds and also, since it is for a criminal purpose, supersedes the CBN’s regulation on cash withdrawal limit with regards to public accounts and instituted funds.

“There is nothing in these guidelines to suggest or indicate there is reason to compel or warrant a public official at federal, state, and local government to go to a financial institution to withdraw cash. In the unlikely event that a public official feels he may need cash withdrawal, he may apply for approval for a waiver from the Presidency which may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

“Under no circumstance, shall any category of public officers be given a standing or continuous waiver to withdraw cash from any public account in any financial institution or designated nonfinancial institution.”

He said, “The application of these guidelines includes all foreign missions operating in Nigeria, accounts of all development partner institutions, and the accounts of all instituted funds in form of independent funds to be operated as mutual funds such as insurance funds, cooperative funds, brokerages funds, political party funds or pressure group/union funds, once the funds are designated to exist as funds or to operate independently for management and/or investment.”

Wike, on his part, said the people of Oyo State should await the directive of Makinde on who they should vote for in the February 25 presidential election. He said as far as he was concerned, there was no other political party in Oyo State apart from PDP. The Rivers State governor said the only way for the people of the state to appreciate Makinde was to vote for him.

Makinde, in his remarks, appreciated the people and party faithful for entrusting the destiny of the state to him. He assured that more development projects and programmes will be witnessed in the state if he was reelected for another term of four years.

Makinde said he jerked up the state’s internally generated revenue from about N1.7 billion to N3.8 billion as at November last year. He promised to do more for Oyo State and its people if reelected, saying he has fulfilled all his campaign promises in his first term.

He stated, “In my first term, I promised you the following on agenda Omituntun 1.0 known as accelerated development: economic prosperity, education, improved infrastructure (Awotan, Akobo, Moniya/Ijaye Road), GSM salary date, safe and secure environment (Amotekun), gainful employment with total fulfillment.

"My second term will be towards total socio-economic upgrade in the state. This is formally known as the Omituntun 2.0, a sustainable development."

Ikpeazu’s Kinsmen Pledge Support for Atiku PDP supporters in the hometown of Ikpeazu avowed their support for Atiku.

Earlier, the PDP governorship candidate in Abia State, Professor Uche Ikonne, visited Atiku and pledged loyalty to him.

PDP supporters in Obingwa Local Government Area said they had not only adopted, but also vowed to deliver Atiku in next month’s election.

According to them, party remains supreme in everything, hence, they have no option than to support the party’s standard bearer as party faithful.

In a campaign video, addressing party faithful and stakeholders at Abala Primary School, the chairman of PDP in Obingwa, Seth Agomuo, declared the loyalty and unflinching support of the party members for Atiku. Agomuo said PDP in the council would give their block votes to all the party’s candidates in the different elections.

He explained, “As a party chairman, and a true party man here in Obingwa, I want to clarify

something. As far as I’m concerned, and a true party man, candidates have emerged after contested primary elections, such candidates now belong to the party and the party will support them.

“That’s the truth. I’m a true party man. Whether you love the candidate or hate him, that doesn’t matter as long as he emerged from a primary election conducted by the party.

“So, as far as I’m concerned and as far as I’m the PDP chairman in Obingwa, we shall only vote for PDP candidates, from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to the Senate, House Representatives, governor, and state House of Assembly.

“We are PDP and that’s our stand. We’re Igbos, but our party comes first before any other thing.”

The G-5 governors had vowed that Atiku’s presidential bid would not get their full support unless the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu vacated his position for a southerner, to ensure equity in the party hierarchy.

PDP PCC Mocks Tinubu over Kano Rally The PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) described as "disgraceful, shameful, and embarrassing,” the rally organised for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in Kano, saying, “After hiring a crowd in Kano, he spoke for less than one minute."

PDP PCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Senator Dino Melaye, said Tinubu could not address issues confronting the country or utter any policy pronouncement.

"No policy statement or concrete presentation. Please, listen and see if God will forgive those packaging this calamity," Melaye declared.

He alleged that the APC candidate spoke for less than a minute, “because he has nothing to offer,” explaining that the talks were done by his running mate, Ibrahim Shettima, and the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, while Tinubu took to dancing.

Kano Rally Proves Tinubu Has Nothing to Offer Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communications to, Phrank Shaibu, yesterday, noted that after spending so much money to organise a rally in Kano State, Tinubu could not even manage to deliver an inspiring speech to the crowd of supporters that had gathered to hear him speak.

According to him, in a bid to conceal his inability to deliver a coherent speech, the APC candidate said rather than speak, he would

dance.

“Today, I have come home to Kano. All I want to do is dance. I want music,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.

“Unfortunately, Tinubu’s dance moves proved to be as uncoordinated as his unintelligible speech. The people and the gods rejected him,” Shaibu added.

This was not the first time Tinubu would be doing this, Shaibu said. In Benin on Thursday, it was a mixture of “bala blu” and concoction as he mumbled, "I will turn the so-called Yahoo Boys to experts in manufacturing and creation of chips and datjfgfdfgxfvvf,”the Atiku’s assistant said.

“Similarly, at the APC rally, which held at the Trade Fair Complex in Minna on December 14, 2022, Tinubu also could not muster the energy to address the crowd that had been waiting for him for over six hours.”

Shaibu added, “On mounting the podium, the APC candidate shouted, ‘Niger Sai Bagode,’ with a brief response from the crowd.

Tinubu thereafter left the venue, a situation that made the Master of Ceremony announce the end of the campaign in Niger State.

“The APC campaign council hurriedly put out a statement, claiming that Tinubu’s inability to address the crowd had nothing to do with ill health but he was rather overwhelmed by the crowd.

Bollocks.

“At the APC rally in Ebonyi State, where he managed to speak for 20 minutes before a rented crowd, Tinubu spent seven minutes acknowledging governors and chanting, ‘Great Ebonyi, greatest of the greatest’. When it was time for him to deliver his speech proper, his mental deficiency was laid bare when he said ‘electric power is a super highway… they could not even make a down payment for the roasted corn (sic)’, whatever that means.”

Shaibu noted further, “Similarly, at the town hall in Owerri, his weakness was again exposed when he described the town hall as being different from ‘Balabu, Blu blu, Bulaba’. Clearly, these are warning signs, which Nigerians must not ignore as they head to the polls next month.

“If this election were about comedy, then Tinubu would win hands down, as his speeches have become excellent material for Tik Tok, Internet memes, and even stand-up comedians, but, unfortunately, this is serious business.

“With debt and unemployment at an all-time high, Nigeria has been infected by the sickness called APC. Indeed, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was right when Continued on page 36

INEC: PRESIDENTIAL POLL RESULTS TO BE COLLATED AT ICC IN ABUJA Professor Mahmood Yakubu, as the chief electoral officer for the presidential election.

In a statement by National Commissioner in charge of Publicity and Chairman, Voter Education, Festus Okoye, the commission said after a meeting of the situation room, it was resolved that the ICC would serve as the venue for the exercise.

Okoye said, "The commission has established two committees for this purpose. First, is the Collation Secretariat, where presidential results from the states will be collated.

"This will be headed by the chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in exercising his constitutional responsibilities as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation and Returning Officer for the presidential election. In addition, a few technical staff will assist him.

"The second is the Situation Room and Collation Centre Committee, which shall be responsible for the preparation of the venue, seating arrangement, utilities and services, security, the accreditation of party agents,

as well as the national and international observers, media, etc.

"The committee has the following membership: Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, National Commissioner, Chairperson; Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, National Commissioner; Festus Okoye, National Commissioner; Director, Electoral Operations; Director, ICT; Director, Planning and Monitoring; Director, Security; Director, Election and Party Monitoring; Director, International Cooperation Protocol, as members.

He also said the situation room and collation centre committees were inaugurated by Yakubu, who charged them to commence work in earnest and to discharge their responsibilities diligently.

Meanwhile, INEC said as part of efforts to ensure effective collection of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in the 774 local government areas, it was devolving PVC collection to the 8,809 registration areas/wards from Friday 6th to Sunday 15th of January 2023.

Okoye further said all validly registered voters, who were yet to collect their PVCs were encouraged to seize the opportunity of the devolution to the wards to do so.

He stated, "After the 15th of January 2023, the exercise will revert to the local government offices of the Commission until 22nd January 2023. All eligible and valid registrants can collect their PVCs from 9.00am to 3.00pm daily, including Saturdays and Sundays.

"All those that applied for replacement of lost, damaged, or defaced PVCs can collect their PVCs at the registration area/wards during this period and the same thing applies to those that registered prior to the 2019 general election and are yet to collect their cards.

"The PVCs of those that applied for transfer are available for collection in the local governments and registration areas, where they intend to vote and not in the state or local government, where they carried out the transfer.”

Okoye said the commission appreciated the patience and understanding of Nigerians, who trooped to its various local government offices to collect their PVCs, adding, "In making the cards available for collection, the commission is also working to ensure that the process is simple and hitch-free for Nigerians."

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Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0809 7777 322

7TH EDITION OF IMO STAKEHOLDERS' FORUM...

L-R: Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Founder of Seplat Petroleum, Dr ABC Orjiakor and Founder of Diamond Bank and Chairman of the 7th Edition of Imo Stakeholders' Forum, Dr. Pascal Dozie during the occasion which held at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square New Owerri...yesterday

NERC: FG Paid N35.2bn Electricity Subsidy as Discos' Remittance Slumped by N70bn in Q1,2022 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government subsidised electricity supply in the country to the tune of N35.27 billion, even as the expected remittance by Distribution Companies (Discos) to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) dwindled by N70 billion in Q1,2022, a report just released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has indicated.

The delayed NERC report also showed that although NBET was expected to receive N164.86 billion under the Market Remittance Order (MRO) invoice of N203.13 billion issued for energy generation costs during the period, the bulk trader only received N109.96 billion during the quarter.

“This means that the government is responsible for covering the difference in form of subsidy to energy consumers to the tune of N35.27 billion,” the NERC report stressed.

But it wasn’t clear where the subsidy payment by the federal government came from.

In March, 2022, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, told the nation that the authorities ‘quietly’ removed the subsidy on electricity tariff.

At a virtual meeting of African Finance Ministers (AFM) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Ahmed said clearly that the government had removed any buffers it was paying in the sector.

“We have been able to quietly implement subsidy removal in the electricity sector and as we speak, we don’t have subsidies in the electricity sector. We did that incrementally over time by carefully adjusting the prices at some levels while holding the lower levels down,” she

stated.

However, NERC stated that NBET received only N109.96 billion during the quarter, stressing that overall, the total Disco remittance performance to NBET was 66.70 per cent compared to 68.34 per cent in Q4,2021.

In addition, NERC stated that the total invoice from the Market Operator (MO) to Discos in 2022/Q1 for which a 100 per cent remittance was expected was N40.77 billion, but that only N25.73 billion was received across all the Discos.

“This means that the remittance performance to MO for the quarter was 63.12 per cent. This represents a 15.47 per cent decrease compared to 78.59 per cent, that is, N39.75 billion remitted against an invoice of N50.58 billion, recorded in 2021/Q4,” it said.

In the quarter under review, NERC said no payment was made by the special customer, Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd and the host community in respect of the N391.65 million and N69.45 million market invoices issued by NBET and MO respectively in Q1, 2022.

Furthermore, it hinted that in the period under consideration, bilateral customers like Paras-SBEE, Transcorp-SBEE and Mainstream-NIGERLEC received invoices of $2.72 million, $2.74 million and $4.61 million from the MO and each remitted $2.72 million (100 per cent), $2.74 million (100 per cent), and $4.52 million (98 per cent) respectively.

According to the commission, Odukpani-CEET received an invoice of $3.42 million from the MO during the period but no payment was made by the customer.

In terms of billing performance, the total energy received by all Discos during

the period was 7,300.05GWh while the energy billed to the end-use customers was 5,649.21GWh indicating an average billing efficiency of 77.38 per cent.

This billing efficiency was an increment of 1.02 per cent from the 76.56 per cent recorded in 2021/Q4.

For the period, the total revenue collected by all Discos was N199.90 billion out of N295.69 billion billed to all customers which corresponded to a collection efficiency of 67.36 per cent, representing a 1.98 per cent reduction compared to 2021/Q4 where the average

collection efficiency was 69.34 per cent.

“In monetary terms, although the billing in 2022/Q1 reduced

by N7.41 billion (2.44 per cent), revenue collections reduced at a higher rate N10.98 billion (5.22 per cent).

“It is imperative for Discos to employ technologies and operational procedures to increase both their billing and collection performances to forestall long-term financial challenges. These could include holistic energy accounting procedures, customer and infrastructure metering, etc,” NERC stated.

The Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collection (ATC&C) losses for the period was 47.88 per cent comprising technical and commercial loss (23.44 per cent) and collection loss (30.66 per cent), the report said, stating that the ATC&C loss increased by 0.97 per cent compared to 2021/Q4 of 46.91 per cent.

“All Discos did not meet their allowed ATC&C loss targets as specified in the MYTO -this means that all Discos exceeded their efficient loss targets and thereby were not able to earn the revenue requirement upon which their approved tariffs

for the period were set. “ Consistently incurring these inefficient losses could prevent the Discos from meeting their upstream market obligations and have adverse effects on their long term financial positions,” the commission added.

Nigeria still grapples with electricity supply challenges and is only able to generate just between 4,000 megawatts to 4,500 megawatts for its over 200 million population. Operators blame illiquidity due to non cost-reflective tariffs as one of the biggest problems besetting the sector.

Buhari to Troops Fighting Oil Theft: End Menace Before May 29 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, along with several top government officials , have visited security personnel fighting to stamp out oil theft in the Niger Delta, reiterating President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to end the menace before May 29.

While delivering the president’s instructions to the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (OpDS), in Effurum, Delta State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, respectively, Sylva stressed that government can no longer tolerate the criminality in the region.

A statement by the Senior Adviser, Media and Communications to the minister, Horatius Egua,

quoted the minister as stressing that the activities of the oil thieves had destabilised crude oil production in the last couple of years.

“Mr President has mandated us to eradicate crude oil theft.

He has directed that no litre of crude oil should be stolen in the country again especially in the South South.

“He wants crude oil theft completely eliminated by May 29, 2023 as one of the legacies of his government.

This is the message from Mr President. We are not where we want to be, but we are happy at what we are seeing,” the minister said.

Prior to the renewed efforts of the federal government in tackling the menace of crude oil theft, the nation’s daily crude oil production was about 900,000 barrels per day, the statement said.

However, it noted that due to the scaled up security efforts of the federal government, it has helped to shore up production to about 1.5 million barrels per day.

“I am happy to hear that morale is high here. We were here a few months ago to hand over the mandate of Mr President to you and that is to ensure that there is zero tolerance for crude oil theft in the region.

“We want to thank you for what you have done so far but there is still more to be done for us to achieve 100 per cent.

Nigerians have noticed what you are doing, the managers in the oil industry have noticed what you are doing and indeed the international community has noticed what you are doing.

“We are happy at the improvement we are seeing

in the oil and gas sector. We have seen the significant improvement and that’s why we are here on the mandate of the president to thank you for what you are doing. He has said there should be no reason why we should be losing an essential commodity that is the ‘life wire' of the country.

“We are here to ask you to redouble your efforts so that we will be able to tell Nigerians and the president that we have zero tolerance for crude oil theft,” the minister stated further," Sylva explained.

He recalled that when the team visited the region about three months ago on the mandate of the president, the situation was very disturbing noting that today there is a significant difference.

Continued on page 12

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APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN RALLY IN BENIN...

L-R: Former Edo State Governor & Deputy Director-General, Operations for APC Presidential Campaign Council, Adams Oshiomhole; APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Senator Godswill Akpabio, Edo State Coordinator Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, and Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu, during the APC Presidential Campaign Rally in Edo State at University of Benin Sports Complex, Benin City...yesterday

NNPC: Report Alleging Undocumented Export of 17.8 Million Barrels of Crude Untrue Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has said that reports that it exported 17.877 million barrels of crude oil without documentation within a period of four years was untrue.

In a statement yesterday, released by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC , Garba Muhammad, the national oil company stated that all the monies in question were remitted

to the federation account.

Several online reports had indicated that the Office of Nigeria’s Auditor General had accused the NNPC of exporting the products valued at $1,020,969,281.12 between 2016 and 2020.

The AuGF was also said to have faulted the NNPC for appointing two pre-shipment agents and one monitoring and evaluation agent in 2017 knowing full well that President

Muhammadu Buhari had cancelled the appointments of all service providers two years earlier.

They quoted that AuGF as noting that the payments were without budgetary provision and violated Section 80(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

But the NNPC rebuttal urged the public to treat the report with a pinch of salt, stating that there was no truth therein.

“Our attention has been drawn

to an online publication, alleging that NNPC Limited exported 17.877 million barrels of crude oil without proper documentation in four years (2016 to 2020).

“The Auditor General’s report in reference did mention 32 oil marketing companies involved in the non-completion of the Nigeria Exports Proceeds (NXP) forms; but that does not in any way mean that the proceeds from the sale of the said crude were not repatriated into the coffers

Minister Denies Knowledge of Electricity Tariff Increase by NERC

of NNPC and consequently into federation accounts for federation related barrels,” it said.

In addition, it urged the public to note that NNPC does not appoint inspection agents as alleged, insisting that rather, it is the sole responsibility of the federal ministry of finance.

“Therefore, the general public is advised to disregard the said malicious publication, and instead visit the relevant Auditor General’s website to see the full content of the audit report, and be guided accordingly,” it noted.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Gbenga

Komolafe, has met with executives of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) at in Abuja.

A note from the NUPRC stated that the Chairman of the OPTS , Rick Kennedy and his IPPG counterpart Abdulrazak Isa participated in the meeting.

The meeting which was at the instance of Komolafe, it said, was to review progress on a number of upstream related activities since the last engagement with the commission in the last quarter of 2022. Also in attendance, it noted, were NUPRC board members and top executives of OPTS and IPPG.

Air Peace Incident: NAHCO Begins

Labour kicks against FG's N3trn injection into private power firms Investigation, Suspends Personnel Lawmakers disagree with NGF over power generation, distribution Chinedu Eze been together all these years

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, yesterday evening denied knowledge of the indiscriminate electricity tariff imposed by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on consumers.

The minister who made this known while responding to questions by parliamentary correspondents on the presentation of the NUEE Secretary General on the increase of electricity tariff, said: "Where is the Chairman NERC? He's the one that do anything on tariff.

I can't speak on tariff. He's the chairman of NERC that can speak on tariff."

Earlier, the organised labour had kicked against the over N3 trillion injected by federal government into the privatised electricity companies owned by individuals, without commensurate increase in power generation over the past 10 years.

The Secretary General of NUEE, Joe Ajaero expressed concern during the public hearing on a bill to amend Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005, to provide the legal and institutional framework for the implementation and coordination

of Rural Electrification projects, establishment of the National Power Training Institute and Regulatory provisions to strengthen the sector for efficient services delivery and for related matters', held at the instance of House Committee on Power chaired by Hon. Aliyu Magaji.

Ajaero, who argued that the privatisation had further compounded the economic woes, maintained that the exercise was designed to fail from the onset.

He said there has not been meaningful improvement or contribution by the current investors nine years after the privatisation and 17 years after the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 was signed into law.

While stressing the need to review the entire privatisation exercise, the NUEE scribe said: "Our position on privatisation is clear, but we are worried whether the amendments are critically based on market private public where we belong now.

Having tried privatisation for 10 years, and we are doing just the amendment of sections of the act and even the review provision in the act which gives provision for the review of the sector after five years and we have written consistently and

it has not happened.

"This Act, are we really obeying it? If there is provision for review after five years, and Nigerians are groaning, consistently Nigerians are complaining and we say privatisation was based on the fact that government doesn't have any business in it and government is pumping in money to an individual’s business.

“As we speak now, almost N3 trillion has been pumped into the power sector which wasn't there when it was owned by the government. So what's the logic to say government has no business in business and government now has to pump and fund the business of another man. And we need to sit down and see what is working for us.

"That is why we came here to say the laws we made by ourselves, we can pause and look at it and move on. As we are speaking today, the issue of tariffs is on, if government is pumping in trillions and Nigerians are being compelled to pay, you can see what is happening, the country is suffering.

“If you put N2 trillion in the economy of Nigeria today, it will thrive, but it is being pumped into businesses owned by

individuals. Let's look at this: What is the cost benefit analysis of this if we have to take our money and go and check the records, for about 10 years before privatisation, government didn't put 10 per cent of that money into the sector but it's putting it now."

In the bid to address myriad of challenges facing the industry, Ajaero underscored the need for review of shareholding of the industry.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Magaji, disagreed with the Nigerian Governor's Forum (NGF) over power generation and distribution in the country.

Eyo Ekpo, consultant to NGF had said that said issue of power was not a matter of opinion of the forum or of the states, but a position that rests absolutely on the provisions of the constitution that makes power the concurrent responsibility of the federal government and the states.

But, Magaji said lawmakers were in a position to ensure whether or not the action of the NGF is in consonant with the law or constitutional framework for power generation and distribution in the country..

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) has announced the suspension of personnel involved in the damage of Air Peace aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday.

The airline’s aircraft waiting to take in passengers for its first flight of the day was damaged when NAHCO Plc staff drove equipment and rammed it on the aircraft, an Airbus A320 with registration number ES-SAZ. NAHCO said it has opened investigation on the incident, stating that the airline has been doing business with the handling company since it started flight operations.

In a statement signed by the Group Executive Director, Business and Corporate Services, NAHCO Plc Dr. Sola Obabori, the company said it was deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident of NAHCO equipment, which impacted an Air Peace aircraft.

“Air Peace is the biggest privately owned airline in Africa, and we are proud to have them as one of our prime clients. We share a very cordial relationship with the airline, and we have

serving them diligently and professionally, since inception.

“We have invited the relevant regulatory and security agencies to swing into action and especially investigate the subject of sabotage and take an independent look at the incident. To enable proper and unhindered investigation, some senior operations officials have been suspended, while some others are being investigated,” the statement added.

Air Peace expressed sadness over the incident because it disrupted its operation, as the airline, which was damaged had 10 flight rotations that day, but was damaged at the time it was carrying out its first service, which was 7:30 am flight to Owerri from Lagos.

THISDAY learnt from the airline that the aircraft was grounded immediately after the incident and before repair would be carried out, it would be inspected by officials from Airbus and while it is grounded, the airline would be losing revenue.

The equipment was said to have hit the aircraft elevator, which damaged it and might have reverberated to the aircraft airframe.

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SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF ACTING CHIEF JUDGE...

L-R: Former Chief Judge of Kwara State Justice Suleiman Durosinlorun Kawu; Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly Rt Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi; Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Acting Chief Judge Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Mrs Janet Olufunke Adebara; and Representative of Acting Grand Kadi of the State Sharia Court of Appeal Justice Mashud Oniye; during the swearing-in ceremony of the Acting Chief Judge, at Government House, Ilorin...yesterday.

Onochie: State of Niger Delta Region Shameful Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie has expressed disappointment that the Niger Delta region have not benefited much from the commission since its establishment 20 years ago, describing such as shameful.

Onochie who was among the board members recently Inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari, with a directive to achieve the mandate of the agency, regretted that so much money from the commission have been wasted by some individuals who were only interested in enriching themselves than impacting meaningfully on

the region.

She made the assertion yesterday, while addressing management and staff of the commission at its (NDDC) headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Warning that it would not be business as usual, Onochie regretted that the money meant for NDDC and by extension development of Niger Delta was squandered in Abuja, Lagos, Dubai, etc, thereby impoverishing people of the region.

She said: "Today is a historic day. I am not just for the people of Niger Delta, but for the women of Nigeria. And being a historic day, we have a lot of things going on today.

"Let me remind us why we are here. This (NDDC) is an organisation, a commission that

was commissioned specifically for the people of Niger Delta.

It is an interventionist agency that is supposed to bring about prosperity; it is supposed to bring development in our region.

"This organisation was set up in 2000. And, if you go round the Niger Delta till date, there is little or nothing to show for it. NDDC has been a shame of the Niger Delta and a shame of our nation.

For the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has been determined to turn things around.

"Over 20 years the money that was expended in this region, they found their ways to Abuja, to Lagos, to Dubai, London, USA, everywhere, except the Niger Delta. And when the government tries to

correct things they use some of the money to mobilise those same people they have put under them to protest against what the government is doing in their own favour.”

According to her, “from what we gathered there are a lot of politics going on here. It is not just here, in the Ministries as well, we will not tolerate that we are coming as a team.

“We are all one, we have come to serve you, serve the people of Niger Delta. We will improve your lot, make you happy; make sure you are happy at home. Is not about me, not about the MD, not even about the President of Nigeria, it is about the people Niger Delta.

"As I said yesterday, at our inauguration, he (Buhari) never does things in his own interest.

Kwara Gov Swears-in New Acting CJ Hammed Shittu in Ilorin.

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, yesterday swore in Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara as the Acting Chief Judge of the State.

The swearing-in of the new acting Chief Judge, Justice Adebara became imperative few hours after Justice Suleiman Durosinlorun Kawu bowed out of the bench in great honours.

A statement issued in Ilorin signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye stated that,"The development reaffirmed the administration’s absolute respect for separation of powers and rule of law.

"It is on record that this government has since assumption of office in 2019

shown absolute respect for separation of powers and rule of law.

"It is in this regard that the most senior Judge on the High Court bench is being sworn-in today to fill the vacant office of the Chief Judge of Kwara State.

"This is in compliance with Section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as t)".

The governor added: "I am pleased to have the honour this afternoon to swear in Hon. Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara as the Acting Chief Judge of Kwara State.

"This is following the retirement of Hon. Justice S.D. Kawu, who was the Chief Judge of Kwara state until yesterday (Wednesday).

"It’s a thing of joy for us in Kwara State that there is a harmonious relationship

between the three arms of government.

"The peace this has engendered is a reaffirmation that Kwara State is indeed a State of Harmony.”

AbdulRazaq expressed confidence in the ability of Justice Adebara to deliver on the huge roles before him.

"I am delighted that Hon. Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara is assuming office at this time. It is a period when fairness, forthrightness, and overriding public interest, qualities which he and his predecessors are renowned for, define a judicial officer," he said.

He however said, "As you assume office today as the acting Chief Judge, your Lordship will inherit a long-standing legacy of a state judiciary that is highly

regarded in the country and beyond."

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Barrister Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, for his part, said: "We are gathered here today to witness the constitutional duty of Executive Governor of Kwara State as enjoins by the provision of section 271 subsection 4 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which vested His Excellency with the power to appoint the most senior judge of the High Court to act in the capacity of the Chief Judge of the state.

"It will be recalled that the former Chief Judge of Kwara State Hon Justice S.D Kawu, OFR retired on the 4th January, 2023, after almost 40 years of public service."

BUHARI TO TROOPS FIGHTING OIL THEFT: END MENACE BEFORE MAY 29 “We have seen a significant change in the whole thing and we are happy about it. We want to return in another few months to show Nigerians that we have successfully tackled the problem of oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country,” he noted.

While thanking the combined team of security agencies for their efforts, he urged them not to relent in pushing forward with the strides already achieved so far, adding that going forward, the federal government will have zero tolerance for the menace.

In his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) , Mallam Mele Kyari, disclosed that the government had set up special courts to expedite the trial of criminal elements involved in perpetrating the crime in the Niger Delta region.

Kyari who also expressed gratitude to the troops for the work they were doing to restore confidence in the sector, noted that he was sure that there will be full restoration in crude oil production in the

shortest possible time.

He also expressed confidence in the collaboration between security agencies and the private security companies contracted by the NNPC Limited in the campaign to restore full production in the sector.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Lucky Irabor in his remarks, urged the security agencies to remain steadfast in the campaign to halt crude oil theft in the country.

Other officials on the minister’s team, besides Kyari and Irabor were the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS),

Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Mr Gbenga Komolafe and the Chief Executive Offer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Mr.Farouk Ahmed.

Also on the entourage were the Commander, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Aminu Hassan, senior government officials in the oil and gas sector as well as other top military officers.

Everything he does, he does in the interest of Nigerians.

And this board you see here represents that interest."

The agency's board chairman further disclosed that she and her team were set to reposition the NDDC, urged the staff to ensure the successful achievement of the mandate.

"We are here to reposition NDDC. We are here to serve people of the Niger Delta and by extension people of Nigeria. We are here to do things differently.

"When I returned from the diaspora in 2014 to join his (Buhari) campaign, what I heard everywhere was 'that's not how we do it here. Madam, this is not London; this is not UK.’ "We are going to do things differently and we don't want to hear that story. We have come with ideas and I believe that each and every one of you Earlier, the new Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the

commission, Samuel Ogbuku, said it was an auspicious day, which witnessed official handing over from outgoing MD to the successor.

Ogbuku said: "Well, as a board that has just officially resumed today, at the NDDC headquarters, I want to first of all assure you that we are not to antagonise anybody. We are here to also depend on your experience.

NDDC administration needs experience. We need your support; we need your cooperation.

"We are not here like one party handing over from one party. We are not here to fight anybody. We are all people from Niger Delta. I want all of you to be rest assured that, based on your competence, you are going to be working with this administration. We are definitely not going to look at mediocrity. Everything has been based on your competence. If you show ingenuity, you have a chance to work with us."

NMDPRA Seals 14 Fuel Stations for Selling Above Stipulated Price in Kano Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano The Kano State Coordinator of Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Samaila Muhammad Sama, yesterday sealed 14 fuel stations for selling above stipulated pump price in Kano.

According to him, the fuel stations were shut down for selling fuel at between N295 and N300 per liter respectively, which was above the stipulated pump price.

“We have strict regulations to punish the offenders which include revoking their licence of operation, sanctioning them on payment of penalty and invalidation of transaction,” he said.

The State Coordinator, disclosed that the fuel stations were sealed following breach of surveillance for confirmation discharge and price regulations by the stations.

“For now the sealed fuel stations will be sanctioned to pay the sum of N150,000 per pump nozzle so long as they are willing to revert to

prices that are convenient for the public,” he said.

He explained that major marketers that were depot owners were selling fuel at N185 per liter and also disclosed that the authority also sealed more 120 fuel stations in Kano in December 2022.

“For any station that refuses to discharge or sell above stipulated price we will validate their equalisation transaction.

“Invalidation is the authority that pays equalisation payment of N45 per liter for the fuel they transport from Lagos or Port Harcourt” MuhammadSama.

The sealed fuel stations included Azman Oil and Gas, Maiduguri road; Red Star, Allah na Nan Zaria Road, A Y Mai Kifi Western bypass, SID Zaria Road, Alaj Petroleum Co.Ltd and Danlami petroleum.

Others included two Audu Manager and Sons Limited, Rimi Holdings Nigeria Limited, Rabash Enterprises Nig.Ltd, IDM Makole Nig Ltd, Alhaji Ahmadu Ila and Sons and Haab Investment Limited.

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POLITICS

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com 08033025611 SMS ONLY

Onochie as NDDC’s First Female Chairperson

Emameh Gabriel writes on the expectations from the newly appointed NDDC chairman, Lauretta Onochie, by the people of Niger Delta as she assumes office this week.

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lmost three years after the suspension of the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the subsequent disbandment of the interim management board of the commission, President Muhammadu Buhari late last year appointed one of his loyal aides, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, as NDDC Chairman.

President Buhari had in November, 2022 written to the Senate for the confirmation of Onochie’s appointment and 11 others as members of the newly constituted board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Onochie’s appointment as the first female Chairperson of the Commission since inception has put behind the perception that the Commission is a boys-only club, deflecting criticism that the Buhari’s administration has failed to consider more women in top government’s jobs.

Her appointment came almost a year after the release of a report of a forensic investigation ordered by the President on widespread corruption and sundry contract scam that rocked the commission till 2021.

This followed a breathtaking revelation of over 13,777 compromised projects, 362 bank accounts and money running into about N6 trillion expended on projects and investments in NDDC since 2001.

The President’s intention was to clean up the rots in the Commission and set a new template for the new management with a view to restore accountability and therefore rebuild confidence in the minds of the people of the region.

While her appointment has stirred up fear among some persons in the region who wanted her job at all cost to protect their interest in the Commission, perhaps to sweep leading investigation under the carpet, President Buhari has been widely commended for appointing a woman for the plum job, one who they said does not only posses the right credentials but also fits the job.

Among those who have hailed the President for her appointment are Senator Stella Oduah who thanked Buhari “On behalf of Nigerian women for giving” oil producing states “a woman who is capable”.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, also commended President Buhari preference for appointing Lauretta Onochie as the Chairman of the Board of the NDDC. He said: “Since men had been managing the agency for a long time and there were no much significant improvement, Mr. President may think that the appointment of a woman could change a lot of things at the NDDC.” Similarly, royal fathers in the region under the aegis of Niger Delta Council Of Chiefs has described Onochie’s appointment as “the best parting gift for the people of Niger Delta region by Mr President.

“We believe with this appointment all maladministration, indiscriminate and misuse of allocation of the commission shall be a thing of the past going by Onochie’s pedigree.

“For those who cross the path of the Onochie, they can testify that she represents everything Mr President represents; Transparency, Decency, Uprightness, Selflessness and Doggedness. These are the qualities the commission needs at this moment to deliver on its mandate”, they said.

Onochie, a former aide to President Buhari, who had her appointment turned down as INEC Resident Commissioner by the Ahmad Lawan-led Senate in 2021 took oath of office on Wednesday.

Even when her appointment was expected not to draw an ire from any quarters, but before now, some stakehold-

ers of the region were piqued over reports that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, immediate past Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, are entangled in a battle with a former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Godswill

Akpabio and his successor, Umana Umana, for the control of the NDDC board.

Unlike her last nomination as INEC National Commissioner that generated political ruckus at the Senate, she was confirmed by the Senate just few weeks after Buhari’s letter to the Senate was read on the floor of the Senate.

She was said to have been recommended for the job because of her implacable personality. Besides, “the President believes that women were more committed to their jobs and have less responsibility to derail”, said a source.

Upon resumption, Onochie will face the challenge of restoring the values and purposes for which the NDDC was created. She is expected to draw out a code of conduct that will help her achieve the mandate which she was appointed for.

Onochie must be ready to step on toes to change the narratives. The task ahead is huge, given the fact that power brokers in the Niger Delta have in the past seen the NDDC as a cash cow and funds from its coffers have been used to further political interests. It is this prevailing situation that has engendered high leadership turnover in the agency overtime and the order for forensic audit by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Central to the problem of the NDDC has always been accountability and it is for the reason, the choice of Onochie, a very loyal subject to Buhari and woman known to be prudent was informed.

The President was believed to have settled for Onochie only after pressure from some forces in the Niger Delta and some key members of his kitchen cabinet consider her as one with the right credentials and discipline to clean up the rot in the Commission.

Her first priority therefore is to begin the tracking and profiling of all projects awarded by the Commission in the last one year with a view to ascertaining if due processes were followed and most importantly, if specifications were met.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Oborevwori Maps Out Plan for Delta Ijaws The governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed readiness to develop Ijaw area of the state if elected.

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n elated Oborevwori made the promise shortly after the Ijaw nation adopted him as their sole governorship candidate for the March, 2022 governorship election.

The PDP gubernatorial flag bearer said he was humbled by the overwhelming endorsement, saying that Ijaw nation is to first to adopt him in the race to Government House, Asaba.

He reiterated that Ijaws would not be left out in his M.O.R.E agenda.

According to him: “My M.O.R.E agenda stands for Meaningful development; Opportunities for all; Realistic reforms; and Enhanced peace and security.

“I am a pan-Delta and unifier, positioned to do more for Deltans if elected governor.

“I promise to give Warri a new face because Warri is a city that played host to the Urhobos, Ijaws, Itsekiris and some other tribes”.

Oborevwori commended the 12 traditional rulers of Delta Ijaw extraction for their support and prayers, just as he lauded elders and political leaders of Ijaw nation for the fantastic organization of the programme which he said witnessed who-is-who in Ijaw politics.

Ijaw nation had at a recent ceremony held at the residence of former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo in Effurun, unanimously endorsed Oborevwori as its sole guber-

natorial candidate for the governorship election in Deta State.

Unveiling Oborevwori who is also the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, chairman of the ceremony, Chief Peter Yerindideke Biakpara, said the decision was taken “ because we know that the Ijaw agenda which some of us agitated for through some Ijaw aspirants would be achieved through supporting Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as our sole candidate for the 2023 governorship election.

“After the meeting, committees were

set up to reconcile some aggrieved persons and to also unveil Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori as the sole candidate of Ijaw nation.

“Thereafter the unveiling committee, elders and political leaders of the Ijaw Nation in Delta State, on Thursday 22 December, 2022 paid a consultation visit to all the traditional rulers of Ijaw extraction in the state to inform and appeal to them for blessings to vote for all PDP candidates.

“The candidates include; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for President and Vice President respectively, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and Sir. Monday Onyeme for Governor and Deputy Governor respectively; Hon. Michael Diden for Senate, Delta South Senatorial District; Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu for House of Representatives, Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency; Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi for House of Representatives, Burutu Federal Constituency and the five PDP House of Assembly Candidates of Ijaw extraction.

“In response, HRM Elder (Capt.)

Joseph Timiyan, Ebenanaowei of Ogulagha Kingdom and Chairman, Delta Ijaw Traditional Rulers Forum, who spoke on behalf of the monarchs, prayed for the elders and political leaders of the Ijaw nation to succeed in all their endeavors.”

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Agusto Upgrades Wema Bank Funding SPV Series II Bond to ‘Bbb+’ with Stable Outlook Oluchi Chibuzor Ratings agency Agusto & Co. has upgraded Wema Bank Funding SPV Plc’s Series II Bond to ‘Bbb+’, with a stable outlook, from the previous ‘Bbb’ score.

The Issuer is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up by Wema Bank Plc (‘’the Bank’’ or ‘‘the Sponsor’’) for the issuance of debt securities.

Agusto in its latest rating assessment said it upgraded the rating of Wema Bank Funding SPV Plc’s Series II N17.7 billion seven-year fixed rate bond to ‘Bbb+’ as a result of significant improvement on key metrics of assessment. ‘‘The rating assigned to the bond is hinged on the Sponsor’s upgraded rating of ‘Bbb’ and is a notch higher given that 45% of the bond proceeds was invested in a 13.53%, 7-year Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bond and held in the custody

of the Joint Trustees,’’ Agusto & Co. stated in the report.

It further noted that ‘Bbb+’ assigned Wema Bank affirmed the leading financial institution’s improved profitability, satisfactory asset quality and liquidity profile. ‘‘In the unlikely event of a default, this provides some recovery prospects. The upgrade in the rating assigned to Wema Bank reflects its improving profitability metrics, satisfactory asset quality and liquidity profile,’’ the report added.

Commenting on the report, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ademola Adebise, stated: ‘‘Wema Bank welcomes with excitement this latest positive assessment. This important rating adds to the series of positive outlooks that credible independent global ratings agencies have given to our bank which affirms the resilience of

our bank as a stable financial institution. We are buoyed by these positive affirmations to recommit delivering innovative banking and financial solutions that foster inclusive growth for individuals and businesses, and more importantly pushing further Wema Bank’s frontiers as a major enabler of national economic growth.’’

Agusto & Co. explained that the rating validity for the bank subsists up until 10 September 2023, but noted, however, that constraining these positive factors are the elevated operating cost profile, the harsh regulatory environment and prevailing macroeconomic headwinds.

In similar vein, global rating agency Fitch affirmed Wema Bank’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B-’ with a Stable Outlook, Viability Rating (VR) at ‘b-’ and National Long-Term Rating at ‘BBB (nga)’, in July 2022

LASACO Assurance Promises Improved Dividend to Shareholders LASACO Assurance Plc has promised improved investment returns to its shareholders in its 2022 financial year. This is even as it promised to continue with its tradition of paying genuine claims as and when due.

Speaking at the 2022 End of the Year/Grand Gala Party in Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend, the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Razzaq Abiodun, who applauded the firm’s stakeholders for a successful business year, said, LASACO excelled despite the turbulent and harsh operating environment.

According to him, “the business environment has been challenging, coming from the backdrop of Covid-19 and inflation that is already affecting how Nigerians priortise their needs.

Inflation has grown over 20 per cent but notwithstanding, we have been able to wax even stronger because as far as insurance is concerned, there are advantages and opportunities in every challenge.. In whatever

that happens, there is always an avenue for insurance and LASACO has actually leveraged on that.”

In terms of gross premium, he said, the company has been growing for some years now, 25 to 30 per cent against the industry average even as the insurer had improved ratings in the current year.

Promising that 2023 will be a better year for the company, he stressed that, LASACO Assurance will expand its outreach, leveraging on the broking platform and technology as well as its branch network.

On the reason for the celebration, he said: “we have been doing this before, but what we have this year is to celebrate with all our stakeholders, customers, brokers, directors and employees.

Its an extended invitation to our stakeholders. The motive is to thank God for what He has done in the life of LASACO, despite the turbulent and harsh operating environment.”

Similar, the company’s Chairperson, Mrs. Maria Olateju Phillips, represented

by Independent Non-executive Director, Sani Ndanusa, noted that, company is upping its game, with so many projections put together to improve the firm’s performance.

“LASACO Assurance has come a very long way in the last 40years and today, we are among the top insurers in the insurance industry. We abide by the ethics and professionalism of the business. We don’t take our Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) for granted. We have a good working environment and we have satisfied our shareholders, customers and board alike, going by their testimonies at this event,” he stressed.

In the same vein, its nonexecutive director, Mr. Adeniyi Rasaq Saliu, stated that, the company has change its mantra to be among the top five in the insurance market in the next few years.

L-R: Executive Director Lasaco Assurance Plc, Ademoye Shobo; MD Haggai Insurance Brokers, Segun Amure; Chairman Priority Insurance Brokers,Taofeek Adelekan; member Board of Directors of Lasaco, Sani Ndanusa; Managing Director/CEO Lasaco Assurance, Mr Razzaq Abiodun; Head of HR, LAMATA, Abiodun Kuye and his wife, Morayo; member, Board of Directors Lasaco Assurance, Mr Adeniyi Saliu; Executive Director LSDPC, Mr Adeniyi Aromolaran; MD/CEO ROE Insurance Brokers, Mr Richard Adewole; General Manager Business Development, Lasaco Assurance Plc, Mr Olumuyiwa Anwoju and MD/CEO Lasaco Properties, Mr. Olumide Jaiyeola, at the 2022 End of Year party of Lasaco Assurance Plc in Lagos...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

AUGUST 2022 Money Supply (M3)

49,356,443.6

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

50,601.36

Money Supply (M2)

49,305,842.3

-- Quasi Money

27,869,678.3

-- Narrow Money (M1)

21,436,164

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,680,236.81

---- Demand Deposits

18,755,927.2

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

5,074,909.92

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

27,869,678.3

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

61,195,142.4

---- Credit to Government (Net)

21,001,401.5

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

40,193,740.9

--Other Assets Net

6,785,979.22

Reserve Money (Base Money

14,040,351.9

--Currency in Circulation

3,210,664.98

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,829,686.9 390,557.8

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

July 2022

Inter-Bank Call Rate

13.00

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR)

Financial Inclusion: FCMB, Jamborow Partner to Uplift Nigeria’s Rural Dwellers First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Jamborow, an emerging force in the technology ecosystem, have announced a partnership to fast-track financial inclusion to enrich the lives of thousands of Nigerians living outside major cities.

The partnership, they said, will accelerate the onboarding of underbanked and unbanked people living in rural and periurban areas on the platform of Jamborow, providing them with access to the excellent financial services offered by FCMB, including loans.

Speaking on the partnership, the Co-Founder and CEO of Jamborow, Mr Olusegun George, said: “Strategic partnerships like these will continue to bolster and fortify our efforts to alleviate poverty and improve the lives

of citizens across the developing world by providing an accessible ecosystem to promote economic and financial inclusion. FCMB, a leading institution in the SME and MSME segment, will add instant value to our mission by providing first-class financial services to our clientele across several verticals to boost trade and growth with our technology.”

Also commenting, the Managing Director of FCMB, Mrs Yemisi Edun, said: “We are pleased to partner with Jamborow, a leading FinTech company, to address some of the challenges facing people in rural and peri-urban areas, particularly access to financial services. This intervention promotes inclusiveness and would allow disadvantaged people and communities to enjoy financial services and improve their lives through enhanced

economic activities. At FCMB, we will continue to champion and execute initiatives that enrich lives in our local communities by creating opportunities that empower individuals and businesses to become their very best.

“By integrating the Jamborow platform with that of FCMB, more people at the grassroot will have access to formal financial services without hassles. For instance, the Jamborow platform creates financial and credit profiles for the underbanked and unbanked making it easier to obtain loans, grants, and other benefits. This will create expanded opportunities, boost rural economies, raise household incomes, provide job security, reduce poverty, strengthen community bonds, promote economic growth and reduce rural-urban migration.”

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

2.76

Savings Deposit Rate

1.42

1 Month Deposit Rate

3.64

3 Months Deposit Rate

4.96

6 Months Deposit Rate

5.87

12 Months Deposit Rate

5.76

Prime Lending rate

12.10

Maximum Lending Rate

27.61

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT 24 OCTOBER, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $92.17 a barrel on Monday, compared with $92.09 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

19

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY, ʹ˜ 2023

Stock Market Down N429.8bn on Profit-taking in Airtel Africa Kayode Tokede Trading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) closed on a bearish note as investors lost N429.8 billion in market capitalization following profit-taking in Airtel Africa Plc, 15 others.

The NGX All Share Index (ASI) decreased by 1.52per cent to close at 50,868.52 basis points from 51,657.56 basis points it opened for trading, while the

market capitalisation down by N429.8billion to close at N27.707 trillion from N28.136 trillion it opened for trading yesterday.

Accordingly, sectoral performance was relatively positive as the NGX Consumer Goods added 1.33per cent, NGX Banking index increased by 0.8per cent and NGX Oil and Gas index rose by 0.09per cent, while the Industrial sector closed flat.

As measured by market

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

DEALS

F O R MARKET PRICE

breadth, market sentiment was positive (1.3x) as 19 stocks gained relative to 15 losers.

Prestige Assurance leads the losers table, dropping by 8.70 per cent to N0.42 per share, followed by Airtel Africa that depreciated by 8.26 per cent to close at N1,500 per share.

UPL Plc was down by 7.37 per cent to N1.76 as NPF Microfinance bank declined by 7.10 per cent to close at N1.76 per share.

S E C U R I T I E S QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

In addition, Royal Exchange down by 6.36 per cent to close trading yesterday at N1.03 per share.

On the gainers chart, Johnholt Plc appreciated by 10 per cent to N0.88 per share as Honeywell Flour Plc gained 9.96 per cent to N2.43 per share. CWG added 9.78 per cent to N1.01 per share as UACN rose by 4.88 per cent to N10.75 per share.

NB was among the top five gainers yesterday, gaining N4.21

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

per share to close at N47 per share.

In terms of activity levels, total volume and value decreased by 57per cent and 58 per cent respectively, as investors exchanged about 139 million units of shares worth N1.83 billion.

Sterling bank Plc dropped by 2.10 per cent, the most actively traded stock with about 29 million units of shares worth about N41 million.

A S O F

According to analysts at InvestmentOne Research, “The equities market closed negative today due to the loss printed in Airtel Africa.

“Going forward, we expect investor’s sentiments to be swayed by the search for real positive returns and developments in the interest rate space.

“We reiterate that this may be a great period to pick up some quality names with a medium to long-term investment horizon.”

0 4 / 0 1 / 2 3 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

20 T H I S D AY FRIDAY JANUARY 6, 2023

Friday January 6, 2023 Vol 27. No 10117

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

POPE BENEDICT XVI: A CURATOR OF TRUTH SONNIE EKWOWUSI pays tribute to Pope Benedict XVI who passed at age 95

See page 21

HUMAN TRAFFICKERS ARE MURDERERS FABIAN AMADI urges all stakeholders to unite against human traffickers

See page 21 EDITORIAL

A VOICE FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

22

1

Adverse response to Obasanjo’s endorsement of Obi repudiates a habitual tendency to dubiously appropriate the people’s discontent, writes BOLAJI ADEBIYI

THE SCARIFICATION OF EBORA OWU Never wanting to lie low at moments of national distress, Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, stole the show on New Year’s Day with a letter to Nigerians, particularly the youth, asking them to take back their country.

“The last seven and a half years have no doubt been eventful and stressful years for many Nigerians,” the man also called Ebora Owu told distressed Nigerians who just had the driest Xmas in living memory, adding, “We have moved from IU\LQJ SDQ WR ÀUH DQG IURP PRXQWDLQ WRS to the valley.”

Saying the sorry state of the nation requires that citizens seize the opportunity of the 25 February presidential ballot to redress the situation, the former president x-rayed the four leading candidates in the race and settled for the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, a two-term governor of Anambra State.

Naturally, the others, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress; Atiku Abubakar’s Peoples Democratic Party; and Rabiu Kwankwaso’s New Nigerian Peoples Party, were bound to be unhappy DQG WKH ÀUVW WZR KDYH FRPH RXW VPRNLQJ while the third has so far ignored the endorsement. The presidency too, which received searing attacks from the former president also responded with equal measure, excoriating Obasanjo as an irresponsible erstwhile national leader who is now motivated to criticise the Muhammadu Buhari administration by his personal frustration.

As usual, the reactions from the aggrieved party have been vicious, hardly addressing the issues raised by Obasanjo in his letter. “Our leaders have done their best, but their best had turned out to be not the best for Nigeria and Nigerians at home and abroad. For most Nigerians, it was hell on earth,” he had said.

“The endorsement is actually worthless because the former president does not possess any political goodwill or leverage anywhere in Nigeria to make anyone win a councillorship election let alone win a presidential election,” Bayo Onanuga, a director of media in the APC presidential campaign, said while dismissing it.

Hear Kola Ologbondiyan, a PDP Campaign spokesman, “It will be H[WUHPHO\ GL΀FXOW IRU 1LJHULDQV particularly the youth demography, to accept Chief Obasanjo’s opinion as the solution to the myriad of challenges facing the nation today because the last candidate he introduced, by his own estimation, failed Nigerians.”

On the face of it, both Onanuga and Ologbondiyan are correct to the extent that given Obasanjo’s political choices and intervention in the last 16 years, his sense of political judgment must be

questioned having got it wrong at least twice. More important is the former president’s lack of grace in abdicating responsibility for the current sorry situation that Nigeria is experiencing.

Obasanjo speaks of Nigerians jumping IURP IU\LQJ SDQ WR ÀUH +H KRZHYHU conveniently refuses to take part of the responsibility for this debacle having not only procured the frying pan but DOVR VWRNH WKH ÀUH WKDW 1LJHULDQV MXPSHG into. The former president was part of the leadership recruitment process that headhunted Goodluck Jonathan, a virtual deputy governor, as the vice president to Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007. By 2011, Obasanjo actively backed Jonathan to pick the PDP presidential ticket and went on to win the general election.

Mid-way into that administration, Obasanjo quarrelled with Jonathan and joined the grand conspiracy that not

only demonised the former but also brought Buhari. Jonathan was said to have performed badly but Buhari is now regarded as a monumental disaster even by the assertion of their erstwhile principal. Not a few social critics think that it is irresponsible of Obasanjo not to have share responsibility for helping to prop these leaders before mounting the rostrum to preach about the need for the restoration of good governance.

Although it might be unfair to hold Obasanjo entirely responsible for the perceived underperformance of the duo since he could not have done their job for them, the point that stands out is that he ought to have accessed their capacity and competence to deliver before presenting them for engagement.

For instance, how could the intellectual hollowness of Buhari that had been on public display for decades have escaped his attention when the president was brought to him as a replacement for Jonathan?

If Obasanjo’s sense of political judgment is now questionable, Tinubu’s and Atiku’s complaints could be viewed as coming too late having at various times presented the former president to the public as a man of consequence.

Sometime in 2014 or so, Tinubu led a delegation to the Abeokuta home of

Obasanjo and spoke glowing of his erstwhile foe in a bid to get him behind the emerging political conspiracy that became APC. “You are the nation’s SDWKÀQGHU µ KH WROG WKH IRUPHU SUHVLGHQW who eventually supported Buhari’s bid for the presidency.

By the mid-term of the Buhari administration, the Ebora Owu had fallen out and had written a scathing letter to his erstwhile surrogate. At a colloquium organised to commemorate his birthday, Tinubu threw jibes at Obasanjo, “He is a bad belle letter writer.” That did not prevent the APC candidate from visiting the former president in Abeokuta midlast year to ask for his support for his presidential bid.

Atiku too had been to Ota and Abeokuta a couple of times. Despite Obasanjo’s serial attacks that practically sent Atiku’s reputation to the cleaners, the PDP candidate had to make a humiliating trip to Abeokuta in 2019 to seek the endorsement of his former boss.

He got it but lost the general election to Buhari. To be fair to the former vicepresident though, he has avoided his former boss in this electioneering circle.

While it is true that Obasanjo is not a run-of-the-mill politician that can by himself mobilise massive votes behind even a councillor, as Onanuga derisively puts it, he has without a GRXEW JDUQHUHG FRQVLGHUDEOH LQÁXHQFH across the length and breadth of the country having served three times as head of state. He is, therefore, in a position to mobilise critical sectors of WKH 1LJHULDQ SRZHU EORFV IRU VSHFLÀF political objectives. This perhaps explains his relevance in the political terrain, an advantage he tends to exploit for mischievous purposes at times.

Already, his endorsement appears to have opened the space for others to step forward. Edwin Clark, a major voice in the Niger Delta has thumped up for Obi just as Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue State and a member of the rebelling G5 PDP governors, has tacitly concurred. Some more may come in the days ahead.

What is important to note, however, is whether those endorsements would amount to votes on 25 February. The LQGLFDWLRQV DUH QRW D΀UPDWLYH HYHQ when they have a dissimilar impact RQ WKH HOHFWLRQHHULQJ HͿRUWV RI WKH two leading candidates, Tinubu and Atiku. For the former, nothing much to worry about because his support base is not likely to be badly impacted as he retains, at least on the surface, his voting bloc. It is the latter that is likely to get hit more as Obi is ebbing away his personal and party stronghold.

Adebiyi, the managing editor of THISDAY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@thisdaylive.com

T H I S D AY

321

FRIDAY JANUARY 6, 2023

SONNIE EKWOWUSI pays tribute to Pope Benedict XVI who passed at age 95

POPE BENEDICT XVI: A CURATOR OF TRUTH It all began on June 29 1951: Two blood brothers: Joseph Ratzinger (24), and his older brother, Georgi Ratzinger (27) are ordained to the priesthood in Freising, a university town in Bavaria, Germany. With outstretched hands the two brother priests impart their first blessing on the waiting bemused crowd, and, by extension on the 1.2 billion Catholics-onesixth of the world’s population. April 19 2005: Joseph is elected Pope by a clear majority of 115 Cardinals. He replaces Pope Saint John Paul 11. Immediately after his election, he presents himself to the faithful on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica amid the spontaneous outbursts of “Habemus papam ex Germania”.

The outbursts shake the pillars of St. Peter’s Basilica to their foundation. There are about 400,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, some of

them radiantly waving the German flags.

Joseph is the first German Pope succeeding St. Peter, the first Pope, for 482 years. The new Pope chooses the name, Benedict XVI after Saint Benedict of Nursia, the great religious founder and educator whose motto is: ora et labora (“pray and work”). September 14 2005: the new Pope unveils and blesses a statue of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, which is placed in a niche on the outside of St. Peter’s Basilica. February 28 2013: Pope Benedict XVI resigns citing advanced age and declining health. He is the first Pope to do so in over 600 years. I can go on and on reeling out the prominent events that shaped Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate.

In his funeral homily at the Saint Pope John Paul 11, Joseph Aloysius Cardinal Ratzinger said: “This is not the time to speak of the specific content of this rich pontificate.

Likewise, this piece does not aim to cover the full extent of Pope Benedict XVI’s rich pontificate and his rich literary achievements.

Instead, it serves as a way for billions of people across the world to pray for the merciful judgment of the soul of Pope Benedict XVI. We pray that the Lord Jesus will welcome him home as his humble servant and a curator of saving truth. We pray too that all those who loved and admired and inspired by him may take consolation in the following words of his homily in the solemn inaugural Mass of his pontificate at Saint Peter’s Square: “Do not be afraid of Christ. He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.”

As John L. Allen Jr. rightly noted in his book: The rise of Benedict XV1, to be elected Pope is tantamount to being sentenced to life imprisonment, meaning that the job of a Pope is not only tasking but entails gigantic self-immolation. One of the first remarkable things about Pope Benedict, in my view, is his calm recollection, self-assurance and serenity even during seemingly turbulent times. He stood out for his surpassing intelligence, calm demeanour and strong convictions.

Another remarkable thing is his towering stature and presence in the world. For short of a better expression, he was a first-class world intellectual. He could be counted among the first 10 most intelligent human beings that have lived in this world. He was known for his strong stance on issues such as the defence of traditional marriage and opposition to violence and terrorism. He was

the professors’ professor. Above all, he was a professor of dogmatic theology. He was the theologians’ theologian. Elmar Bruber, who was his student in theology at the Academy of Freising, recalls that Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger taught theology ex-tempore as if the whole body, branches and principles of theology was in his head. “His rational brilliance, inked with his verbal gifts, generated an unconditional admiration”, writes Bruber. Bruber recalls that whenever it was the turn of Joseph to preach on Sundays the cathedral was packed to the brim, and that even Ratzinger’s fellow professors attended and “listened to his words in a breathless silence”. After publishing his benchmark book: Introduction to Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI had published more than 135 solid theological works including Jesus of Nazareth; The nature and mission of Theology; Salt of the Earth: Christianity and the Catholic Church at the End of the Millennium; Values in a time of Upheaval: Meeting the Challenges of the Future; What it means to Be Christian: Three Sermons, Christianity and Crisis of Cultures; The Ratzinger Report: An Exclusive Interview on the State and the Church.

Undoubtedly Pope Benedict XVI derived his strength in accomplishing the foregoing from prayer. I think this largely accounts for the success of his pontificate. He was rooted in the faith of his parents, in a rural, liberalBavarian Christian piety. As Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Pope Benedict XVI, in collaboration with his boss, Saint Pope John Paul 11, worked indefatigably hard to ensure that the message of the Gospel might be handed down bereft of errors, untruths and falsifications. In fact, Saint Pope John Paul 11’s numerous encyclicals bear the imprint of Cardinal Ratzinger’s resolve to maintain Christian values and doctrinal purity. Small wonder Saint Pope John Paul 11 gave him the task of producing the Catechism of the Catholic Church which he successfully produced.

Perhaps Pope Benedict XVI’s mostSUL]HG DFKLHYHPHQW ZDV KLV XQÁLQFKLQJ commitment to providing the right answers to the following eschatological questions which threaten the happiness of most rightthinking persons: Who am I? What is the meaning of human existence? What am I doing in this world? Where am I going after this life? I think Pope Benedict appreciated that his answers to the above queries would not be readily acceptable in a highly secularized world which seeks to remove God from the public space. The world crisis is essentially a crisis of religion not much crises of intellectual conviction. During WKH SRQWLÀFDWH RI 6DLQW 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO the primary challenge was communism and its suppression of human freedom.

But at the election of Cardinal Ratzinger in 2005 the primary challenge had shifted and focused on confronting what he dubbed “dictatorship of relativism”. Pope Benedict’s crusade against dictatorship of UHODWLYLVP DOWKRXJK UDWKHU GLͿXVHG DQG DPRUSKRXV ZDV YHU\ HͿHFWLYH $OOHQ ZULWHV that the real challenge which Pope Benedict faced was to convince the secularized world that there was a “dictatorship” to be resisted LQ (XURSH $V &DUGLQDO )UDQFLV 6WDͿRUG then aptly put it: “The tragedy of Europe is rooted in the eclipse of the Christian identity of individual Europeans and their society as a whole… Unfortunately that is being repeated in the European Union. There is a kind of Christophobia, a fear of Christ, not just a withdrawal from him…Pope Benedict will be able to bring the people of Europe a new, rediscovered sense of the dignity of what it means to be a child-to be chosen by God in Christ to be his child.”

Ekwowusi writes from Lagos

FABIAN AMADI urges all stakeholders to unite against human traffickers

HUMAN TRAFFICKERS ARE MURDERERS To some people, the above title may appear like an exaggeration of fact and it could polarize public opinion if a suggestion is made for SHQDOL]LQJ WKRVH ZKR WUD΀F LQ SHUVRQV ZLWK the same position of the law to criminals who kill with guns. I am not a lawyer so I lack their competence in such a debate but I can freely anchor an opinion on the human conscience.

There are people who allow their conscience to rebuke them for getting things wrong and others whose attention is so much on VHOÀVKQHVV WKDW QR YRLFH FDQ GLVVXDGH WKHP , GHQRXQFH KXPDQ WUD΀FNHUV DV PXUGHUHUV for merchandising the lives of others. If we are objectively honest, that business is real

cannibalism. Here are notes for classifying those in the wicked practice as killers.

Anyone that trades in human beings is a dream killer because every normal person always had dreams right from childhood.

With time, how to make money or more of it may expand into the mix and generate the ambience for greedy people to craftily locate their targets in life arena. That is the stock LQ WUDGH RI KXPDQ WUD΀FNHUV ZKR SDFNDJH WKHLU GUDJQHW WR HQPHVK SHRSOH HLWKHU EULHÁ\ LQIRUPHG RU D΁LFWHG ZLWK DYDULFH They convince unsuspecting listeners that the streets of Europe are overlaid with gold and that anyone walking on them is at liberty to break out some or pick up as much as needed in ready quantum. The listener begins to query his or her existing dream.

In most cases however, the only dreams that remain alive are those of family members back home who continue to expect their own share of the secretly bloated and celebrated largess. It is only unfortunate that they are disconnected from their relation because at a particular intersection of the journey, the victim’s phone LV FRQÀVFDWHG E\ WKH V\QGLFDWH 6WRULHV DERXQG of twists in the tales that as family members remain hopeful, their relation are never ever seen again. +XPDQ WUD΀FNHUV ´NLOOµ JRYHUQPHQW plans for their compatriots as so much funds running into billions of dollars yearly are FDUYHG IRU RU GLYHUWHG WR ÀJKWLQJ WKH FULPH <HW the criminal practice does not get abated but spirals. A former president of USA, President Barack Obama summarized the illicit business succinctly thus: “When a little boy is kidnapped, turned into a child soldier, forced to kill or be killed — that’s slavery. When a little girl is sold by her impoverished family — girls my daughters’ age — runs away from home, or is lured by the false promises of a better life, and then imprisoned in a brothel and tortured if she resists — that’s slavery. It is barbaric, and it is evil, and it has no place in a civilized world.”

The dangerous consortiums also “kill” what God loves dearly. The book of Genesis

Chapter one has in each of the following verses 10, 12, 18, 21 and 25, where God described His various creations as good. In Verse 27 He created man in His own image and likeness, and for that reason, God in verse 31, changed His use of words from ordinary “good” to “very good”. God’s perception of “very good” must be heavier than our understanding of “excellence”.

This should be remarkable and anybody that tampers with or converts God’s valuable to business or merchandise should be culpable. ,I LW VHHPV OLNH , DP SRQWLÀFDWLQJ OHW me get a bail out from the same former American President: “…For we know that every life saved — in the words of that great Proclamation — is ‘an act of justice’; worthy of ‘the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God’.”

What I consider necessary is to unleash a collaborative world-wide onslaught against the crime, which means that all hands must be on deck. Legislation must be maximized with enforcement on its heels and unrelentingly mustering every available resource.

A former American First lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton said it more clearly: ´7UD΀FNHUV PXVW EH EURXJKW WR justice. And we can’t just blame international organized crime and rely on law enforcement to pursue them. It is everyone’s responsibility. Businesses WKDW NQRZLQJO\ SURÀW RU H[KLELW UHFNOHVV disregard about their supply chains, governments that turn a blind eye or do not devote serious resources to addressing the problem, all of us have to speak out and act forcefully.”

There is a fact to bear in mind, you may be secured where you live, but you have friends and relations who may be preys WR WKH KXPDQ WUD΀FNHUV D VLWXDWLRQ \RX cannot control and may regret with time.

Necessity demands therefore that we report the activities and hideouts of the evil people wherever found so that they can be traced, pulled out and dumped into where they should be residing - the prison yard.

I have this metaphoric story for a conclusion: While playing with his friends, a boy started throwing stones into a nearby market. One of his friends warned that those stones could hit somebody, but the wanton boy replied, “I don’t care”. After a while some people in the market chased after the boys but they ran away.

By the evening, the boy that threw stones sat at the dining table waiting for his supper. As his mother appeared from the kitchen, he noticed that she had a bandage covering her head and one of her eyes.

He asked to know why and his mother narrated: I went to the market today to buy the ingredients for preparing this supper, a stone hit my eye. It was thrown by a naughty boy who escaped into the bush with his friends as some people in the market started chasing them.

The boy lost appetite immediately. Tears ÁRZHG IURP KLV H\HV IROORZHG E\ D ZDLOLQJ that attracted their neighbours.

Who had earlier said “I don’t care”? Be warned!

Amadi is Creative Consultant, Febis Multi-Concepts, Lagos

22 4

T H I S D AY

FRIDAY JANUARY 6, 2023

EDITORIAL

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

A VOICE FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED The disabled should be empowered to help themselves and their families

P

often denied employment opportunities and they are also hysically challenged Nigerians got an unusual subjected to discrimination and stigmatisation by both advocate during the week when Debola Daniel, the society and the authorities. To worsen the situation, son of former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga many are regarded by their families as a source of shame Daniel, expressed concern over neglect of this and treated as objects of charity. The few vocational vulnerable citizens in our country. “To be a training centres set up by government are ill-equipped disabled Nigerian is a lonely, scary, and isolated and ill-maintained. Many end up in the streets as beggars place. I have often struggled to articulate my Nigerian while others turn to drugs and other socially unacceptable experience in a way people could understand,” Daniel behaviour to generate income. wrote while sharing a recent experience of a concert he From the “Nigerians with Disability” military decree could not attend. “There’s never a place for you. Not in of 1993 which provides “a clear and comprehensive legal the infrastructure, not in social settings and increasingly protection and security for Nigerians with disability as not in society. It’s a feeling of constantly being made to act well as establish standard for enforcement of their rights grateful for being included as an afterthought.” and privileges” to the several We commend Daniel efforts by the National for speaking out for Assembly in the past 24 years, this neglected group.

The government as a matter of policy must create a conducive the law is not the problem.

It is important for the The main challenge has been authorities in Nigeria to atmosphere for social, economic, and polit ical integration of the the attitude of Nigerians to begin to pay attention the plight of this vulnerable physically challenged in our society to a huge segment of group. Yet according to World our society. Besides the Health Organisation (WHO) 2018 Act that compels reports, there are as many as the government to T H I S D AY 25 million Nigerians living with one form of disability or accommodate them in any major enterprise, Nigeria is a EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU another. signatory to many international conventions that support DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA A recent news report clearly stated that about 98 per equal opportunities for all their citizens. The United MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO cent of public buildings in the country such as schools, DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU Nations defines equalisation of opportunities as “the hospitals, banks, even shop stalls, where some can make CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI process through which the general system of society, such EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN economic transactions, are still inaccessible to persons as the physical and cultural environment, housing and MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI with disabilities.

Yet the physically challenged persons transportation, social and health services, educational and THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE constitute about 19 per cent of the population. work opportunities, cultural and social life, including The government as a matter of policy must create a sports and recreational facilities are made accessible to conducive atmosphere for social, economic, and political all.”

T H I S D AY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D integration of the physically challenged in our society. Even However, it remains unfortunate that the physically EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA if old public institutional buildings cannot be modernised challenged of our society are still discriminated against GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, to accommodate them, new ones should be built in such a and face social stigma. From transportation which allows ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI way that they provide access to the physically challenged.

DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, movement and interactions, through health, recreations ANTHONY OGEDENGBE Attempts must also be made to open educational and and even educational services which can make them DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI employment opportunities so that they can compete compete effectively, people with one disability or another SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH and embrace life with more confidence. The physically are most often discriminated against and deprived of their ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PATRICK EIMIUHI challenged in our midst must be empowered to help rights. Everywhere and every day, obstacles are thrown on CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI themselves and their families and contribute their bits to DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO their paths.

TO SEND EMAIL: first name.surname@thisdaylive.com the growth and development of the society.

In Nigeria today, the physically challenged are most

Letters to the Editor Letters in response to specific publications in THISDAY should be brief (150-300 words) and straight to the point. Interested readers may send such letters along with their contact details to opinion@thisdaylive.com. We also welcome comments and opinions on topical local, national and international issues provided they are well-written and should also not be longer than (750- 1000 words). They should be sent to opinion@thisdaylive. com along with photograph, email address and phone numbers of the writer.

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023

23

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

J A N U A R Y

S & P INDEX

5 , 2 0 2 3

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

11.25%

CALL

10.25%

INDEX LEVEL

613.31%

1/4 TO DATE

-0.85%

N416.86/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

11.50%

1-MONTH

9.56%

1-DAY

0.16%

YEAR TO DATE

7.64%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

10.52%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.44%

At 13.17%, Prime Lending Rate Hits 23-month High

Kayode Tokede Amid increase Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 16.5 per cent, prime lending rate in the banking sector now stands 13.17per cent, the highest in 23-month, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) money market indicators.

Prime lending is the interest rate that banks charge their most creditworthy customers, generally large corporations.

The apex bank in November 2022 increased MPR to 16.5 per cent in response to global inflationary pressures, which had continued to hurt economies around the world.

The CBN in its money market indicators revealed that prime lending reached the highest figure

at 14.97per cent January 2020.

With the prime lending rate reaching its highest level in 2022, the data by CBN revealed that maximum lending rate at 28.14 per cent reached second highest level in 2022, as banks move to attract more lending to customers.

Maximum lending rate increased to 28.14 per cent in November 2022 from 28.06per cent reported by CBN in October 2022, while interest on saving deposit closed November 2022 at 3.93per cent, highest so far in the year under review.

Also, interest rate on treasury bills (T-bills) increased to 6.5 per cent in November, the highest in 2022.

Responding, the Vice president,

Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori lamented over the increase in prime lending rate to MPR, stressing that gap between the CBN’s lending rate and the prime lending calls for concern in the banking industry.

According to “The gap is almost like double-digit and it indicates a serious rant-seeking within the banking industry.

The spread between the prime lending rate and MPR should not be more than 10 per cent but when you have something more than 100 per cent, it means there is a serious rent-seeking activity in the banking sector that is eroding the nation’s economy of resources.”

On his part, the President, Bank

Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Dr. Uju Ogubunka stated that the increase in prime lending rate to uncertainty surrounding and inflation rate in the business environment amid political tension.

Ogubunka said Nigeria’s economy in 2022 has not witnessed major improvement to warrant a hike in banking lending rate to the real sector, stressing that the hike in prime lending is expected to impact increase cost of doing business in the country.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele had admitted that the hike in MPR would increase cost of borrowing, especially in non-priority sectors

of the economy.

Emefiele, however, added that lending to key priority sectors, which had been identified to boost growth and generate employment, would remain at a single-digit interest rate of nine per cent.

He pointed out that the decision to raise interest rate was the last resort and a difficult one for the MPC, which had been crafting policies to stimulate economic growth as well as achieve financial stability.

He said the CBN had adopted a contractionary monetary policy stance in view of the aggressive rise in inflation in recent times, which had led to high food and commodity prices in the country.

Emefiele noted that CBN’s action

was aimed at curbing inflation, on the one hand, and supporting growth of the economy, on the other. He said the MPC was in a dilemma in arriving at a decision to raise the lending rate. As a result, the apex bank governor explained, a drastic measure such as raising the benchmark lending rate was required to reduce monetary expansion in order to tame inflation.

He assured that though inflation was expected to maintain an aggressive acceleration in the coming months, the central bank would not hesitate to return to its accommodative stance whenever it saw a reduction in the headline index.

Continued on page 26

Experts: FX Challenge, Multiple Taxation, Poor Infrastructure Threat to Nigerian Airlines Chinedu Eze Aviation industry experts have warned that the continuous scarcity of foreign exchange, multiple taxation, poor airport infrastructure

and lack of capacity, will have negative impact on airline business in Nigeria, if urgent measures are not put in place.

They are of the view that domestic carriers will remain

unprofitable enterprise, except government reviews its policies in the sector.

The experts who spoke to THISDAY on the way forward for the industry, said since the last 40

years that the air transport sector was deregulated, airlines come and go without sustained profitability and with lifespan of average of 10 years, noting that such pattern of existence may continue, except there

is drastic review of policies that are inimical to airline operations in the country.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi,

told THISDAY that the challenges, which the airlines faced in 2022 would reoccur in 2023 and continue to undermine the operations of Continued on page 26

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT W E D N E S D AY, J A N U A R Y 4 , 2 0 2 3 BONDS DESCRIPTION Price ^14.20 14MAR-2024 ^13.53 23MAR-2025 ^12.50 22JAN-2026 ^16.2884 17MAR-2027 ^13.98 23FEB-2028

10.266, 00 10.319, 00 10.225, 00 10.727, 00 10.386, 00

Yield 11.72 11.83 11.60 13.93 12.92

Change Updated Time (%) December -0.01 30, 2022 December -0.01 30, 2022 December 0.00 30, 2022 December 0.00 30, 2022 December 0.00 30, 2022

BILLS MATURITY

Discount

Yield

NTB 26-Jan23 NTB 9-Feb23 NTB 9-Mar23 NTB 27-Apr23

3.01

3.02

3.01

3.02

3.90

3.93

3.50

3.54

NTB 11May-23

5.02

5.12

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

Change Updated Time (%) December 0.00 30, 2022 December 0.00 30, 2022 December 0.00 30, 2022 December -0.01 30, 2022 December 0.00 30, 2022

MATURITY FDHP CP III 17-MAR-23 VHPL CP III 1-APR-23 MREP CP VI 11-APR-23

Change Updated Time (%) December 0.00 30, 10.23 10.46 2022 December 15.32 15.94 0.01 30, 2022 December 11.84 12.24 0.00 30, 2022

Discount Yield

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.

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.

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CONTRACT TENOR Contract (MONTH) NGUS JAN 25 1 2023 NGUS FEB 22 2 2023 NGUS MAR 29 3 2023 NGUS APR 26 4 2023 NGUS MAY 31 5 2023

Current Rate ($/₦) 46.987, 00 47.205, 00 47.423, 00 47.642, 00 47.860, 00

Updated Time

December 30, 2022 December 30, 2022 December 30, 2022 December 30, 2022 December 30, 2022

24

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023 ˾ T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

NCAA Turns to God, Prays for Safe Flights in 2023 Chinedu Eze The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) began the year 2023 with interdenominational prayer, seeking God’s intervention to make the year accident free, as the industry recorded no accident involving schedule flight service after 2013.

The prayer, which held at the NCAA Aviation House in Lagos, had in attendance senior officials of the aviation regulatory agency.

Muslim and Christian prayers

were held to beseech God to assist the NCAA in fulfilling its vision and mission.

Prayers were specifically held to help the management to effectively implement the new Civil Aviation Act (CAA), which was recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The CAA 2022 repealed the 2006 CAA and captured several developments that had taken place in international civil aviation in the last 16 years.

It has changed the nomenclature of NCAA to

Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) without an ‘A’ in Nigeria and also the DirectorGeneral is now addressed as Director General, Civil Aviation (DG CA).

The DG, CA, Capt. Musa Nuhu who joined the staff through virtual medium implored the staff to continue to be dedicated and committed to duty in the task of facing the challenges ahead.

He expressed optimism that having survived the challenging 2022, the year 2023 would be better.

‘Indigenous MRO Will Create Jobs, Reduce Capital Flight’ Former Rector of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Capt. Samuel Caulcrick, has said there is the need for a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria.

He said such move would help in building Nigeria’s economy instead of creating business for other countries where Nigerian carriers take their aircraft for maintenance.

Caulcrick explained the urgent need for having an indigenous MRO in the country, stating that the facility would bolster the economy, reduce need for scarce foreign exchange resources, reduce capital flight, create jobs for Nigerians among many other advantages.

The former NCAT boss also said situating an indigenous MRO in the country would remove the cost of ferrying aircraft overseas at hue cost to Nigerian airlines.

He said, “Once an aeroplane is flying in Nigeria, it means it is our economy that is supporting the aircraft to fly. Let’s say it is now one hour to go for an MRO, it means our economy has supported that

business for the maintenance to be ready for it to come to the hangar.

“Now, we take the business of the MRO to foreign countries. It means we are creating business for those countries when we were the one that created the business. So, it is better to let it stay within the economy.

MRO will support the economy and lead to more aviation development in the country. So, this economy should not lose to other economies after creating that business.”

He also remarked that having local MRO will support the naira, as airlines would now maintain their airrcaft with Naira payment instead of struggling for forex.

“Once the aircraft is taken out, there is the cost of labour that would be paid by the airline. Instead of the airlines to save the Naira it earned in Nigeria, the airlines go to the foreign exchange market and start looking for dollars. The manpower too is no longer local and the airlines go to the foreign exchange market, looking for dollars, thereby further putting additional pressure on naira.

This affects our economy and the Nigerian market,” Caulcrick posited.

He further said that locating

MROs in Nigeria also meant the government earns personnel tax, as being a formal employment means there is Pay As You Earn (PAYE) which if maintenance is taken abroad another country would now benefit from the service.

“The advantage of having an MRO in Nigeria is that the company is going to use local labour, which is good for the economy, personnel and the government in terms of tax revenues and the experience that the technical experts are going to get, too.Then, you don’t have to pay for fuel to ferry the aircraft to and fro, which you were going to buy in dollars. So, those are the advantages,” he said.

On creating an enabling environment for MRO investors Caulcrick said: “This is simple.

This can be done through policy.

For instance, the NCAA can say it would not renew an existing AOC (Air Operator Certificate) or issue an AOC to an intending operator without a local MRO identified in the application form. The government can give them a timeline because this could take up to three years to accomplish.”

SAHCO Awarded ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc has been awarded the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 9001:2015) certification for quality management system.

ISO 9001:2015 is the international standard that identifies requirements for quality management system (QMS) which organisations use to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customers’ and regulatory requirements.

SAHCO was awarded the certificate of registration because it has been assessed and found to conform to the requirement of ISO 9001:2015 for the scope in Passenger handling, Ramp Handling, Cargo

Handling and Warehousing, Aviation Security, VIP Lounge Services, Crew Administration, and other aviation related services.

The company in a statement explained that the certificate, which would expire in 2025, is also endorsed by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which is a worldwide association that is interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, processes, services, personnel, validation and verification and other similar programmes of conformity assessment.

During the presentation of the ISO certificate by West Sealand International Nigeria Limited (WSI), the Managing Director/CEO of

SAHCO, Mr. Basil Agboarumi said SAHCO was used to undergoing audits for international certifications and that he is happy that the ISO 9001:2015 certification has become a reality. He went on to say that as an aviation ground handling company of repute, SAHCO has ensured that its IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certification is always up-to-date and that SAHCO is RA 3 certified which is a requirement for all European bound freight handlers.

At the event, the Chief Executive Officer of WSI, Mr. Ope Balogun said he was proud to be associated with SAHCO, that not all organisations that start the ISO 9001:2015 complete the process.

Ericsson Recognised as Leader in Climate Performance, Reporting Emma Okonji Ericsson’s global leadership in climate performance and reporting has been recognised by the independent nonprofit CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, by being named in its annual ‘A List’ – the top ranking possible.

CDP’s annual climate disclosure and scoring process is widely recognised as the gold standard of corporate reporting. Based on data reported through CDP’s 2022 Climate Change questionnaire, Ericsson is one of more than 280 of companies that achieved an ‘A’ out of more than 20,000 companies scored.

Head of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson, Heather Johnson, said: “At Ericsson,

we take our role in climate action seriously, and you can’t manage what you don’t measure. That’s why it means so much to colleagues across the company to see our commitment to climate action recognised on the CDP ‘A’ List this year. This recognition is a testament to our continuous progression toward ambitious and science-based climate targets.”

A detailed and independent methodology is used by CDP to assess companies with scoring based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of climate risks and opportunities, and demonstration of best practices associated with climate leadership such as setting ambitious and meaningful targets.

According to Johnson, “Today

more than ever, companies have a crucial role to play in limiting climate change to 1.5°C. That’s why Ericsson will continue to join forces with our customers, suppliers, and the entire ICT ecosystem to manage our climate impacts and develop sustainable solutions that can help take effective climate action.”

Executive Director, CDP Europe, Maxfield Weiss, said: “CDP saw nearly 20,000 companies disclose environmental data this year. The CDP A List companies are showing they are ahead of the game – taking clear action to reduce emissions and to address environmental impacts throughout their value chains. This is the type of environmental transparency and action we need economy-wide to prevent ecological collapse.’’

A I R WATCH

Appraising Civil Aviation Act Chinedu Eze A fortnight ago, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) made it public that it would be amending the 2006 Civil Aviation Act to reflect the present realities in civil aviation, which industry stakeholders described as commendable and long overdue. Stakeholders’ are in support of the review as a result of the fact that a review is expected after every five years at most.

Head, Research and Corporate Travel, Zenith Consult, Tours and Travel, Olumide Ohunayo, gave detailed review of the Civil Aviation Act. He noted that the goal of the amendments was to have a National Civil Aviation Policy that promotes a harmonised approach for sustaining the best global practices in the management of the various aspects of civil aviation. He also said the goal was to have a regulator, which is vested with the independent responsibility for safety, security oversight and economic regulation of the aviation industry in accordance with all international conventions and agreements, as well as government policies and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

The institution given this responsibility is the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, which is an agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Aviation.

Ohunayo remarked that the 2006 Act gave the Ministry of Aviation some roles that conflict with the NCAA, such as co-ordination, formulation, and review as well as monitoring of the implementation of aviation technical policies with emphasis on the promotion of safety and security of civil aviation in Nigeria in accordance with international standards and best practices.

They were also assigned the supervision of the design, construction and maintenance of Federal Government owned airstrips and aerodromes, including other non-revenue generating facilities of the aviation industry.

Also, some of the responsibilities of Economic Regulation unit in the Ministry and the proposed Nigerian Aviation Economic Regulatory body that died during incubation, hopefully never to be conceptualized again, should be in the Air Transport Regulations Directorate in the NCAA, a directorate capable and empowered to handle the responsibilities stated above.

Ohunayo also observed that the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route in the Act has never been implemented despite its numerous benefits to the economy in general and the unserved communities in particular. He explained that the designation of PSO routes was to ensure Nigerians in remote and underserved communities have reasonable access to air services to major cities and other key centers, including routes that are not commercially viable.

“The federal government has not shown any interest in this direction; rather, it is the state governments that have been subsidizing such flights. The licensing of a new category of carriers can help in this direction, simply labelled Commuter Carriers with the maximum aggregate passenger seats of all aircraft in its fleet not exceeding 100 seats, if a Commuter Carrier fleet seats exceed the maximum, it must recertify as a Major Domestic Carrier. The commuters can operate to these underserved cities using the public service obligation route.

“On the establishment of an independent body to coordinate search and rescue in the event of an emergency, this is not necessary as the existing structure within Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) is effective with the establishment of Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC). The existing operational framework suffices,” Ohunayo stated.

He also urged that a national aviation security committee should be established and replicated at the different airports while a section for drones and cyber security be activated in line with present realities.

“We must guide against giving the body wild powers in the new policy as suggested in the amendments; Section 9(1)(b) says the agency can enter into any premises, property, aircraft, aerodrome or conveyance without warrant for the purpose of conducting search or inspection in furtherance of its functions under the Act. This is not appropriate considering they will have to use armed policemen/security men for this action and can easily be abused or used as political vendetta.

“Also section 9(1)(G), which deals with

Ohunayo expropriate property for use in aeronautical search and rescue in any emergency situation where necessary should be looked into. We must consider convenience and livelihood here, some level of compensation should be considered.

Also, Section 11(3) protects the removal of the Director General (DG) by adding the clause senate confirmation as it is done during nomination. I am of the opinion that the independence that we crave for starts from the appointment of the Director General; therefore, a competitive and transparent process should be adopted rather than the present method whereby the Minister nominates and send to the President and to the Senate thereafter for clearance,” Ohunayo further said.

He also said spoke on Section 23(2) – The five per cent of airfare, contract, charter and cargo sales charge shall be chargeable on the total amount, excluding statutory fees and taxes and observed that this is commendable as airlines and other organisations have used and still use different surcharges which increases fare without commensurate payment to the agency and allied dependents. On Section 23(3), which states that the Authority may delegate the power to collect the five per cent of airfare, contract, charter and cargo sales charges to airlines and such funds collected shall be remitted to the Authority, Ohunayo noted that whenever this option become inevitable, “we should avoid a reoccurrence of what happened at Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) when this option was adopted, it became an embarrassing mess between both parties that the unions were used to forcefully eject the other party.”

He said that the percentage to be paid and scope for this service should be stated clearly ab initio which should not be more than two per cent.

Section 23(6) All Air Operating Certificate (AOC) holders who manage aircraft other than that of the operator, which aircraft is included in the operations specifications of the operator, shall pay a five per cent management fee arising from such contracts. This is double taxation since AOC holders will be remitting the passengers taxes and other operational statutory payments on the aircraft to the body.

On Section 23(10), which states that an air operator which fails to remit to the authority, within the time specified in the regulations the five per cent charge, commits an offence and its directors are each liable on conviction to a fine of N5, 000,000 or imprisonment for a period of two years or both; he described the section as draconian, remarking that suspending the AOC will be appropriate after going through the due process of notification.

“Moving forward it is not enough to just review the civil aviation act without putting in place structures that will make it effective and enduring, NCAA’s powers are eroded, diluted and influenced by the overbearing nature of successive ministers appointed to head the Ministry of Aviation.

“We do not need an independent Ministry of Aviation; neither do we need the overbearing influence. Aviation was part of the Ministry of Transport why this government reversed it in 2019 and increased cost of governance remains a mystery, yet they want to implement Orosanye’s report in the 90th minute,” Ohunayo said.

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023

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AVIATION

Of Airport Infrastructure and Flight Operation in Nigeria While passengers accuse airlines of being responsible for flight delays and cancellations, Chinedu Eze looks at how inadequate airport facilities, paucity of technical personnel contribute to hiccups in flight operations

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n the eve of Christmas last year, a Nigerian living in the US, flew into Nigeria to spend the Christmas holidays, and his children joined him, few days after his arrival.

His children left the US few days after him and were programmed to arrive Abuja and go to the domestic wing of the airport and take a flight to Owerri. So the flight was expected to arrive in the afternoon.

They waited and waited and later got the information that the flight coming from Owerri was cancelled because Owerri airport was a daylight airport and does not have night landing facilities, despite the fact that it is one of the busiest airports for domestic flight operation in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the airlines were battling to get aviation fuel, which has suddenly become scarce. They were monitoring the harmattan weather, which was unfavourable for flights.

THISDAY learnt that when the airline was able to source fuel it was late in the day. Weather reports from the Nigeria Meteoroidal Agency (NIMET) indicated that the dust haze that lowered visibility to Owerri airport had cleared by about 5:00 pm. The airline could not go to the airport by past 5:00 pm because the airport would close by 6:00 pm. So the airline cancelled the flight.

There were two factors that led to the cancellation of the flight. The first was aviation fuel scarcity and the second was lack of airfield lighting at the airport, which forces it to operate daylight services. Ironically, Owerri airport is one of the busy airports in the country and during the Christmas holidays there was high traffic to the airport.

These two factors are beyond the airlines.

It is the responsibility of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to provide night landing facilities at the airports.

Scarcity of aviation fuel can be traced to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the marketers. Weather is a natural phenomenon, which is beyond the control of anyone, but there are landing facilities that can enable airlines to land at low visibility at airports.

FUEL HYDRANTS At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, flights are delayed for so many factors, including moving aviation fuel from the depot to airport.

So even when the product is available it has to be trucked from the Apapa depot to the airport. This could take about two hours or more due to the perennial traffic gridlock at the Apapa-airport road. Also, there is no fuel hydrant at the airport. An airline official also told THISDAY that when the truck arrives with the product, it is left for some time for the fuel to settle in case there is dirt mixing with the fuel.

So it takes a long time to fuel the aircraft during product scarcity.

But experts noted that 98 per cent of the delays occasioned by fueling the aircraft could be eliminated if there were fuel hydrants at the airside of the airports.

On the need for fuel hydrants at the airports, PEI Aerospace wrote that in the past it was once customary to refuel an airplane by pulling a tank vehicle up alongside the plane, and pumping fuel from the vehicle tanks into the fuel tanks of an aircraft.

But “today, at large airports a different system is used. Pipes from storage tanks located on the perimeter of the airport, carry fuel to various locations on the runway apron. At each of these locations, a manhole contains underground connection points or hydrants located just beneath the surface.

When an airplane arrives at the position for refueling, a hydrant re-fueler pulls up alongside the airplane. The driver raises the

lid on the manhole, and connects one end of a hose-located on his truck-to a hydrant. The other end is connected to equipment on the hydrant truck, which separates any water from the fuel that may be present, filters the fuel, and meters the fuel delivery. After it has been filtered and metered, the fuel flows through a second hose connected to the airplane fuel tank.”

What PEI Aerospace referred to as in the past is what really happens at all the Nigerian airports presently because there is no fuel hydrant.

Industry expert and the secretary general of Aviation Round Table (ART), Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), told THISDAY that he has made recommendation to government to revive the pipeline that connects the airport to Mosimi depot so that airlines could access aviation fuel from the pipeline.

Fuel bowsers can now source fuel from there and feed the aircraft.

“I have advised the responsible authorities, including the Office of the NSA (National Security Adviser) in 2012 that the pipeline that bridged the fuel supply from Mosimi and got ruptured in 1992 be repaired by the NNPC jointly with the marketers; by the marketers and the airlines or given out as concession to a private company. I was told at the NSA office that I would be stepping on some people’s toes with my suggestion. I have repeatedly mentioned it thereafter even to the present Minister but it seems to me that there are powerful people behind the transportation with tankers just as there are those behind the oil theft and those middlemen between the NNPC and the major marketers that are making it impossible for fuel to get to the independent marketers,” he said.

TERMINAL FACILITIES During the launch of aviation book recently at the Lagos airport, the Vice President of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and the Chairman/CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, spoke on behalf of the association and lamented about inadequate facilities given to domestic airlines at the nation’s major airports.

Onyema said that as the festive season approached, traffic influx was likely to outstretch facilities at airports, especially Abuja where only a few check-in counters are available in a small hall for processing hundreds of passengers.

He said such situation naturally cause delays, impacting on airlines’ businesses and passengers’ plans.

He explained that spending more

time in passenger check-in process due to inadequate facilities contribute significantly to flight delays. He insisted that 95 percent of the circumstances that usually lead to delays are beyond passengers and airlines’ control.

“Airlines are prepared, they have the means, we also know the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is alive to its duties of regulation, safety is assured but in other areas, the airport authority has some questions to answer,” Onyema said.

Speaking particularly on Abuja and Gombe airports, he said it was unimaginable for about 10 airlines passengers to occupy a small space with only four check-in counters, adding that rather than for authorities to rally round and support them, the prefer to de-market them.

According to Onyema, “Nigerian airline operators are the most patriotic citizens of Nigeria because of the environment. People blame us for late departures but airlines are not responsible for delays, passengers need to know the truth but those are supposed to protect us are demarketing us.”

He said: “AON has written to the Ministry and FAAN on the issue of Abuja check-in counters. It’s crazy, nine or 10 airlines in a very small space is not encouraging, but a few days ago, the Managing Director of FAAN spoke to me that they are going to do something about it, what we are asking for is expansion, the old international terminal is lying fallow, some airlines can be asked to move there to create more room for us, a situation where we are given few counters and we have thousands of people checking in will cause delay. I have said it; that passengers should stop blaming airlines for delays, they should look at the main cause; no airline plans to delay flights deliberately.

“Although, this government has done a lot for aviation, the Minister and the President have done a lot, a very passionate man, we need to do something about infrastructure especially at the Abuja airport, it is causing delays for airlines because once you take off from Lagos, you must experience delays in Abuja because of the check-in difficulties, there is no conveyor belts.”

THISDAY carried out investigation at the Lagos and Abuja airports and noticed that passengers have one boarding gate at the Abuja airport.

During peak hours passengers spend more time at the last screening before moving to the airside to board their

flights. Four airlines could announce boarding at the same time but there is only one boarding gate and the space available cannot allow queuing passengers to go through the last screening at the same time, so two airlines at least must delay their check in for the other two to process their passengers before they do their own.

At the Check-in counters, Abuja airport, during peak hours the place literally becomes Balogun market, as passengers would crowd the counters.

Even the queuing process is hampered by limited space. Frustrated passengers would shout themselves hoarse, notifying everyone that their flights are boarding and they are yet to obtain their boarding pass. So what airlines have adopted is to process the passengers their flights are due to take off immediately before attending to others. But that still leaves passengers queuing for a long time at the checking in counters.

INADEQUATE PERSONNEL Industry insiders said there was also the need to ensure that there are more x-ray machines at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), noting that there seemed to be dearth of technical staff, as observers indicate that FAAN has more of administrative staff than technical personnel and that some of those recruited were recommended by politicians in government and National Assembly and despite the fact that most of them are young, they are not trainable because of what is referred to in education as entry behaviour. This means that they are not intellectually prepared to acquire new and possibly complex skills that will enable them contribute their services to the agency.

THISDAY gathered that in FAAN and the other aviation agencies, there is bloated number of administrative personnel, many of them do not have assigned duties; so they come to work, most often do nothing and go back home after work. FAAN, THISDAY gathered, needs more marshallers, aviation security personnel, engineers and others.

THISDAY also learnt that no matter how it is organsied, it would be difficult for airlines to board passengers travelling to different destinations simultaneously without crowding and delays. This is because available facilities for passenger movement are small at the nation’s busiest airports in Abuja and Lagos.

However, passengers don’t seem to be aware of these hiccups in passenger processing, which are caused by extraneous factors beyond the airlines. As the Vice President of AON, Onyema noted, passengers only know the airlines and hold them responsible for flight delays.

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PERSPECTIVE

Agritech: Why Nigeria Needs Urgent Move Towards Commercial Farming Oshone Anavhe

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n 2018, Nigeria conducted a National Living Standards Survey in collaboration with the World Bank, utilizing data from all states in Nigeria except for Borno due to insecurity.

Insights gathered from the survey revealed that the highest levels of poverty in the country were seen in households that solely engaged in subsistence agriculture.

According to Nigeria’s former StatisticianGeneral and CEO of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Yemi Kale, “This doesn’t mean agriculture is a bad thing. It simply means the way we do agriculture in Nigeria has to be improved so that it does not become synonymous with poverty or we have to find other sources of income for farmers to supplement their standard of living.”

This underscores an established notion that subsistence agriculture alone can never sustain any household in Nigeria, a worrying fact as according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), over 70% of Nigerians engage in the agriculture sector mainly at a subsistence level.

The average smallholder farmer in Nigeria makes use of crude implements and tools to grow food to take care of their needs, before selling off the excess, if any. It appeals to farmers in rural communities because it allows for selfsufficiency and participation in informal trade via these markets to obtain other needed goods.

The challenges with subsistence farming are its heavy susceptibility to climate change, labour productivity, and a severe lack of formal education on key aspects. As such, it has stifled agricultural productivity in Nigeria, resulting in declining levels of food sufficiency and increasing dependence on food imports which has affected the agricultural sector’s contribution to the national GDP. As of 2021, Nigeria registered a contribution of 23.36% by the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors to its GDP. On the other hand, Sierra Leone registered the agricultural sector’s highest contribution to the GDP in Africa, at almost 60%.

Experts have argued that the biggest factor affecting the output gap between rich and poor countries is the gap in agricultural labour productivity. Furthermore, development economists

have pointed out that the low agricultural productivity in poor countries stems from the persistence of small non-mechanized farms (subsistence farming).

MOVING FROM SUBSISTENCE TO COMMERCIAL FARMING It is a known fact that Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural production significantly underperforms when compared to the rest of the world.

With 34 million hectares of arable land as of 2019, the largest in Africa and seventh largest in the world, one would assume there would be a booming agricultural sector in Nigeria, thereby challenging high poverty rates, unemployment, food insecurity, and food export dependency.

Yet, in 2018, Nigeria surpassed India as the world’s poverty capital, with around 87 million people living in extreme poverty.

Furthermore, Statista estimated that by the end of 2022, the unemployment rate in Nigeria would reach 33%.

“A whooping 795 million people in Africa were moderately or severely food insecure in 2021. Of those affected by moderate or severe food insecurity, more than 40% (about 322 million) faced food insecurity at severe levels meaning that they had run out of food and had gone a day or more without eating, ”Business Day reports.

As the world faces an economic downturn, the resulting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the slowdown of several industries and severely devastated alreadystruggling economies, there is a greater focus on developing national capabilities and ways in which to revive stunted economies.

For Nigeria, agriculture plays a critical role in transforming its economy, alongside achieving other essential development goals like improving nutrition and ensuring food security. As such, to accelerate economic growth, urgent agricultural transformation must become a reality. This can be achieved only when Nigeria successfully advances its largely subsistence farming-focused sector towards sustainable and structured commercial farming.

When Nigerian farmers begin to move from planting decisions based on their survival needs to planting decisions based on economical and logical reasoning, there lies the foundation for exponential trade growth, resulting in an enlarged economy and sustained food security.

To achieve this, there needs to be deliberate investments and commitments by agents in both the private and public agricultural sectors. In the long term, this will result in a return to time past when Africa boasted of complex and thriving agricultural systems which enabled food production and security.

AGRITECH AND IMPACT ON COMMERCIAL FARMING Agricultural technology (Agritech) is the use of technology in agriculture via products, services, or applications to improve yield, efficiency, processes, and profitability.

Nigeria, in particular, has been very accepting of the sub-sector, with increasing numbers of companies aiming to address the challenges of the agricultural sector via the use of technology. In the last decade, Nigeria has become a vibrant Agritech market in Sub-Saharan Africa, a fact seen by increasing investments despite a wariness due to the perceived risk and the opportunity cost compared to other sectors.

For example, between 2021 and 2022, five Nigerian Agritech companies secured $84.05 million collectively, owing to their innovative digital solutions to address Nigeria’s agriculture problems. The companies and the respective funding secured were: Hello Tractor ($1 million), Vendease ($3.2 million), Releaf ($4.2 million), Agricorp ($17.5 million), and ThriveAgric ($58.15 million).

Founded in 2017 (and fully operational since 2018), ThriveAgric secured not only the largest funding in the Agritech sector but was also one of the top Nigerian startup fundraisers in Q1 2022. They received $56.4 million in debt funding from commercial banks and institutional investors and a $1.75 million grant to support 50,000 smallholder farmers growing rice and maize in Nigeria.

Espousing a philosophy they label ‘Farmer Obsession’, ThriveAgric states

that they seek to own and support wellbeing in all areas of smallholder farmers’ lives with the end goal of promoting food production and security. According to Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Uka Eje, ThriveAgric helps farmers scale their productivity and be positioned to service more value for their efforts, thereby resulting in the sustainable growth of Africa’s agricultural sector and stronger food security, manufacturing, and trade.

This is an ambitious goal, but it seems that they truly understand the urgent need for development in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to help farmers scale their production and move us away from subsistence farming. They recently announced the launch of an initiative aimed to achieve just that.

Labelled the ThriveAgric Marketplace, they aim to provide access to quality and affordable farming inputs & tools like seeds, fertilizer, crop protection products, grains, water pumps, etc., to boost local farm produce production. ThriveAgric also plans to aggregate large volumes of produce in high demand from smallholder farmers to enable supply and trade to domestic & global offtakers.

These are just a few ways in which ThriveAgric and other Agritech contemporaries are challenging the issues in Nigeria’s and Africa’s agricultural sectors, leveraging technology as they do so.

Nonetheless, they cannot transform the industry and our communities alone. Greater investments by the government and the public are needed.

Previously, there was little to no sustained effort to develop commercial farming skills or functional value chains, which severely hindered the transition from subsistence to commercial farming. With the above initiative and many more to come from the Agritech sector, we become one step closer to building a thriving and sustainable agricultural system, securing food security, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 2 which is to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”.

To do so, there needs to be a recognition of the interlinkages between supporting sustainable agriculture, ending rural poverty, and empowering small farmers. t 0TIPOF "OBWIF JT UIF 7JDF 1SFTJEFOU 0QFSBUJPOT 5ISJWF"HSJD

AT 13.17%, PRIME LENDING RATE HITS 23-MONTH HIGH Emefiele said, “The concerns about the global rise in inflation and price levels; you all would have seen that the price of crude quite unexpectedly has been above $100 per barrel. In fact, Nigeria’s Bonny light yesterday, when we started the meeting, was about $116 per barrel.

“What this means is that the standard pricing indicator; yes, whereas crude prices have gone

up per barrel, at the same time the cost of refining and ultimate pump price at the station would naturally have gone up.”

He added, “For us in Nigeria, you would have observed that in the last two and a half years, what we have been doing is that we want to pursue a policy of price stability that is conducive to growth and that’s why somehow we have used our

development finance intervention facilities, we have actually yielded positive results and helped to drive growth in our economy.

“We’ve used that to drive growth while at the same time we try as much as possible to maintain a hold position while looking at the optimum level of liquidity in the industry to be able to moderate inflation at a level that does not

hurt the growth and economy of our country.

“But with what we have seen globally either in the areas of the supply chain, increases in prices of petroleum products, and the rest of them, we have seen aggressive growth in inflation in Nigeria between March and April of 2022.

“And the forecast from our statisticians, including the NBS and

CBN as well as our colleagues in research and monetary policy, is that unless something drastic or significant actions are taken, it will be difficult for us to really rein in inflation if we don’t do something immediately.

“This decision has been taken because we felt that there may continue in the next couple of months to be an aggressive acceleration in

inflation and we think there is a need to take some drastic actions to reverse it.

“If we are able to see a reversal, perhaps, we can say we are returning to what we can call the normal period, when we are looking at using CRR to moderate inflation and at the same time using our development finance to really push for growth.”

EXPERTS: FX CHALLENGE, MULTIPLE TAXATION, POOR INFRASTRUCTURE THREAT TO NIGERIAN AIRLINES domestic carriers because there have been no efforts to eliminate them.

“In 2023 we are still going to face the challenges of scarcity of foreign exchange, multiple taxes, lack of capacity and aircraft maintenance because none of these problems was solved last year.

“So it is the same challenge we faced last year that we are going to face in 2023, but we are going to have some relief in sourcing aviation fuel if Dangote refinery comes on stream. This will guarantee supply but the price of the product may not come down.

Reliable supply of aviation fuel will guarantee reliability in terms of flight schedule; no flight delays and cancellation due to late or non-supply of aviation fuel,” he said.

Sanusi also noted that even if supply of aviation fuel is guaranteed, moving the product to the airport would still face the same hiccups it is currently facing due to poor infrastructure, remarking that the solution to that challenge is the rehabilitation of the pipeline that links the airport to Ejigbofuel depot

for faster supply of the product to the airport.

“As far as the supply of aviation fuel to the airport will be done by trucks they will still face traffic gridlocks at Apapa. Without improvement in infrastructure we will still face the problem of delay in the supply. We need to have hydrant facility at the ramp to make it easy to feed fuel to the aircraft. Until these issues are addressed, 2023 will still be the same thing like the previous years. The pipeline facility to the airport will eliminate pollution from trucks and the accident that occur while moving products by road, which has cost human lives,” Sanusi stated.

He also said that if there is runway lighting at most of the airports in the country and they are kept open by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), flight schedule by airlines would become more flexible, as operators could fix flights late in the night to airports that are safe in terms of security.

“If the needed infrastructure is provided by government, the industry will become attractive to private investors that will be willing to commit their resources to develop the sector,” Sanusi observed.

Speaking in the same vein, the CEO of Top Brass Aviation Limited and Also speaking, former Managing Director of NAMA, Captain Roland Iyayi, told THISDAY that the major drawback in the industry had been the inability of government and the aviation agencies to review the policies that guide activities in the industry, saying that this has retarded the growth of the sector and will continue to make it very difficult for Nigerian airlines to thrive.

“The major challenge plaguing the aviation industry is policy.

We are so intoxicated by power and money that we have become blind. There is need to review some of the policies that guide activities in the industry because there were policies that were relevant at certain period in the industry, which are no more

relevant today. Take for example, the five per cent ticket sales charge, which was introduced many years ago when we had Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA), a parent agency to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), FAAN, NAMA and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET). The then head of FCAA, Dr Harold Demuren, introduced five per cent ticket sales charge when the total passenger traffic was about two million. Today, the traffic is about 14 million and the same money is being collected.

“This is why it is believed in some quarters in the industry that the amount collected as ticket sales charge should amount to a trillion naira a year but some of these monies are allegedly being diverted and nobody wants to discuss it. This charge should be reviewed along with other policies that tend to retard the industry. It is the airlines that bear the brunt of these charges because they add to the total cost of airfares, which reduces passenger load factor because

the higher the fares the more some travellers would choose other modes of transport that would be affordable to them,” he said.

Iyayi said some of these policies created the hostile environment and made airline business unprofitable and precarious.

However, the Secretary-General of Aviation Round Table (ART), Group Captain John Ojikutu, made recommendations on how the industry could be reinvented.

He told THISDAY that there were certain actions and policies that could be evolved to redefine the sector.

“Nigeria air transport can only be well defined if these actions are taken. We have to discard the idea of the national carrier and then project at least two airlines as national flag carriers.

Flag carriers are now the global practices today as governments are not to be seen as business investors in civil aviation which they are obliged to regulate and oversight their operations in safety and security without compromise, especially where there would

be competition between the government airline christened now as national carrier and the private operators. The flag carriers can find life in Arik, Aero and Air Peace, especially if their assets and debts liabilities are well assessed to attract foreign and local credible investors and technical partners. However, the national flag carriers must be ready to sell shares to the public in the Capital Stock Market to make it real national enterprise. This becomes important if they must operate the BASA (Bilateral Air Service agreement) routes, which I consider as commonwealth of the Nigerian people.

“There should be a review of the concession of multiple destinations in the commercial agreements given to some foreign airlines that have exposed them into the domestic routes and therefore the domestic markets of the domestic airlines.

The foreign airlines should be limited to either Lagos or Abuja and not to the two airports but they can go to any other besides the other of their choice between Lagos and Abuja,” Ojikutu said.

This

Weekend

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2023

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WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS Siju Iluyomade Renews Commitment to Uplift Less Privileged Globally as She Marks 59 See page 28

POLSCOPE The Darts and Fury of the Obasanjo Endorsement See page 29

Group Features Editor: CHIEMELIE EZEOBI chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

07010510430

Nigerians Speak: Dreams, Hopes a n d E x p e c t a t i o n s fo r 2 0 2 3

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NigeriansSpeak: Dreams, Hopes and Expectations for 2023 Sunday Ehigiator, who spoke to some Nigerians, chronicled their dreams, hopes and expectations for 2023, especially with the forthcoming General Elections EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RULE OF LAW AND ACCOUNTABILITY CENTRE, OKECHUKWU NWANGUMA

few years, I hope that the year 2023 will favour me as a businesswoman; I expect a decline in the cost of foodstuffs to satisfy my customers.

I also expect peaceful elections.

WRITER & PROOFREADER, OGEDENGBE RACHEAL I am working towards 2023. I experience

A

s the 2023 general elections to elect a new president, parliamentary representatives and governors approach I wish to remind Nigerians that whoever is of voting age and who hasn’t collected his or her Permanent Voting Card (PVC) should please do that. Your vote is your power and if you don’t vote, then you leave room for the desperate politicians to seize political offices and use them to oppress you as well as steal the collective wealth of the nation.

If you sell your vote, you have sold your conscience and the future of your children.

Politicians must realize that politics is about service, not self-benefits or access to public resources. Politicians should shun desperation because if you mean to serve the people you don’t need to be desperate about it. Seek public endorsement not to buy it. Security agencies shouldn’t be partisan but professional.

They should be neutral and provide equal security to everybody because good governance will also benefit security agencies. Nigeria security agencies are not being paid well because of bad governance and if they assist criminals to get into offices, their salaries will not be paid as when due and their welfare would continue to be neglected.

The security agencies need to support democracy by making sure that elections are conducted in a free and fair atmosphere that enables the electorate to exercise their civic right to vote for the candidates of their choice. My advice to INEC is to continue to sustain public confidence and trust. They should do whatever it takes to ensure that the elections are free and fair.

and enjoy exciting firsts; in my career, personal business and finances.

As regards the country, I hope Nigeria will be in better hands by 2023. I hope the commonwealth of Nigeria will shift from being enjoyed by an elite few to being enjoyed by all and sundry.

I hope there will be policies that help small businesses thrive. I hope Nigerians no longer have to pay for basic amenities and infrastructure for which the government is solely responsible.

One of my major expectations is to see credible leaders take the helm of affairs for a better Nigeria.

This life is too short for a bad leader to take away another eight years out of our lives as Nigerians under the auspices of bad leadership which in turn will birth economic retrogression, more corruption, indiscipline, insecurity, and the rest.

We need a level playing ground for all Nigerians, we need a united nation, and not a nation disorganized by tribal, religious, and nepotism segregations.

If we Nigerians get it right by having good leaders, especially the office of the President, all other wishes with prayers will fall in place.

However, another expectation is sound health, favour, and financial greatness and open doors in the New Year.

a sustainable forecast for business operations.

The instability generated by unstable fiscal policy in the area of currency devaluation has increased the inflation rate mostly for essential commodities which has resulted in a continuous reduction in the standard of living.

The expectation in 2023 is highly subjective to the results of the elections in various political offices. I may not be able to make a sustainable forecast for the economy.

SENIOR STAFF, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OFFA, KWARA STATE, BADMUS OLADIMEJI

OIL EXPERT, CHARLSE EHIMATIONWAN

MEDIA PRACTITIONER, BODE GBADEBO,

BUSINESS WOMAN, AGATHA CHITUMU:

Surviving the COVID-19 lockdown is a miracle, an eye-opener for me. Having survived these

In this New Year, I expect the recurrent issues around PMS supply to be settled. The intermittent petrol shortages only add to the general misery of longsuffering Nigerians 133 million (63 per cent) of whom are living under multidimensional poverty. The coming onstream of the Dangote Refinery is expected to help.

I expect that national security is improved so I also expect a smooth transition from one that Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed. administration to another irrespective of the If done, the economy will be naturally enhanced current noise going on now. for both personal and national development.

Finally, the 2023 general election should truly REAL ESTATE EXPERT, reflect the wishes of the majority of Nigerians to BENJAMIN ONIGBINDE: engender a sense of belonging, a better image The year 2022 has been a very challenging among the comity of nations and ultimately one in all respects. The economic outlook at the good governance at home. beginning of the year did not indicate such a high level of depression.

MEDIA AND The year turned out to be more innovative as COMMUNICATIONS EXPERT, more businesses and people strived to design EMMANUEL DAUDU: new ways of creating values to survive.

If Nigerians get it right with the leadership, The political environment at the end of the year particularly the office of the president, everything tends to create tension in the business operating would fall in line. environment as it’s becoming difficult to generate

To say that the outgone year 2022 put to test, Nigerians’ resilience, strength and belief in the socioeconomic bounce back of the country, is an understatement.

The country’s fabric of diversified unity was almost torn to the slivers courtesy of the rancid and unappealing occurrences like insecurity, economic hiccups, inflation, unemployment, brutality, forex etc. This is, nonetheless, not to say that year 2022 was not beneficial to the internal and external image of the country but, one cannot be oblivious to the fact that the tiny negative lines of the year shadowed the government’s efforts at making life better for the citizens.

However, coming out of all these, Nigerians weathered the storms, defied the odds and ushered in the year 2023 with high prospects of positive developments expected to be triggered by the fast-approaching elections.

I am equally pleased to toe this path with strong convictions that the year 2023 would be a year Nigerians will reap the fruit of their labour having experienced the harrowing events of the year 2022. Nevertheless, this expectation will be a mirage and it could spell doom for the future of the country should we miss the golden opportunity to do the right thing in the coming elections.

I am of the view that having quality leadership at the helm of affairs helps a country, inclusive of Nigeria, to attain enviable accomplishments so, for Nigerians to experience economic bliss and explore all the positives embedded in the year 2023, it is an expectation that right decisions must be made at the polls.

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Siju Iluyomade Renews Commitment to Uplift Less Privileged Globally as She Marks 59 Stories by Mary Nnah As the founder of Arise Women Conference, Dr (Mrs.) Siju Iluyomade marks her 59th birthday on Sunday, January 8th with a thanksgiving service scheduled to hold at the Trinity Towers RCCG, Lagos where thousands of individuals will be empowered under the auspices of the Arise Women brand, she has reiterated her commitment to continuing to use the Arise Women platform to continue to uplift less privileged globally.

Her efforts to empower the less privileged and support the effort of government in every area of endeavour have been acclaimed to be one of the most outstanding among the lots who follow the same passion as hers.

Regardless of religion, tribe, or ethnicity, the corporate lawyer and philanthropist has continued to give her all to better the lives of many, using her Arise Women Foundation as a vehicle to intervene in so many areas of human needs.

Siju Iluyomade

Iluyomade, who clocks 59th on Sunday, January 8, said her dream is to make sure Arise affects every part of human life globally in terms of health, housing, education, empowerment, farming and many more.

The gorgeous woman added

that in the last 15 years, her foundation has achieved so much by putting structures like hospitals, school buildings, computerised libraries, and boreholes in many communities in Abuja, Ondo, Imo, Kebbi and Lagos states to mention a few.

Through her hum10anitarian

work, she has also branded a food basket called ‘Arise Pink Bucket’ —with contents that include food items like rice, semovita, tomato paste, and groundnut oil— distributed to every local government across Nigeria.

During the last Arise Women Conference held on Saturday, October 29th at the Trinity Towers, City of David RCCG, Lagos, no fewer than 10,000 were given the Arise food basket that contains varieties of foodstuff.

The hospital built in Kabusa, a suburb area in Abuja for the less privileged, has continued to give free services to people in the area, with several success stories in operations.

Iluyomade, who shares the same birthday date with the wife of Lagos State Governor Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and Minister for Women Affairs, Paulen Tallen, two women who have been part of activities of Arise Women on several occasions also used the opportunity to celebrate her womenfolk.

So Fresh Emerges Best Retail Organisation in Sustainable Practice at Lagos Business School’s Africa Retail Awards So Fresh, Nigeria’s leading healthy food restaurant and provider of fresh, clean, and healthy nutrition, has been awarded the ‘Best Retail Organisation in Sustainable Practice’ at the recently held inaugural edition of the Lagos Business School Africa Retail Academy’s Africa Retail Awards 2022.

The brand joined other leading retail organisations and captains of industry from around the African continent to be celebrated at the maiden edition of the awards put together by the Africa Retail Academy of The Lagos Business School, one of the world’s top 50 business schools.

According to the promoters of the Africa Retail Awards 2022, the criteria for selection for the category in which So Fresh came out tops were the successful introduction of new systems that supported sustainable practices; online and offline ordering systems; application of technology that has helped the business stand out in sustainable practices and collaboration with other partners to drive sustainability.

Commenting on the award, the Chief Executive Officer, So Fresh, Olagoke Balogun said that the win, which puts So Fresh in the African spotlight, is a reward for the intentional efforts made by the business to

The Candlelight Foundation Delights over 300 Lagosians at Yuletide Rebecca Ejifoma It was for these indigent citizens that the Candlelight Foundation exists. Both the young and the old filed out on three columns at the Ojuelegba underbridge to benefit from the benevolence of the Christmas bag pack.

The ultimate quest was to alleviate their plights with a generous distribution of foodstuff and toiletries including rice, cassava flakes, vegetable oil, sachets of tomato paste, cooking condiments, skincare and hair products, hygiene packs, juice packs, toothbrushes and toothpaste among others for over 300 families.

Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Director of Candlelight Foundation, Uzoamaka Okeke blamed the current skiing in food prices, inflation and dollar exchange rate as the major drivers of the hardship.

“Rice is a staple food in Nigeria. A bag of rice now is almost N40,000. That’s one thing that the poor and the less advantaged can access during Christmas. But now they cannot access it,” she bemoaned.

Because Okeke foresaw their yearnings, her foundation decided to do this. “You know that our brothers and sisters, our neighbours, everybody is

having a bit of a high time this Christmas so anything we can do to help.”

For the Candlelight Foundation, the most significant part is for them to do their bid in bringing succour to the indigents.

“We can keep moving forward and try to hit a goal.

We will do all we can. This is a country of about 200 million people to hit a certain goal by 2030. If everybody can do a little, we will hit that goal,” the founder pointed out.

And to attain this pivotal feat by 2030, Okeke implored the Nigerian government to give way to people who “know what to do, the people that have our best interest at heart to do what they need to do.

“We are in a very dangerous position in Nigeria. Any little thing like this now, the people who have been quiet, who the government has been sitting on will rise and when they realise that their power is more together, there’s nothing that the government will do.”

The people are angry, she cautioned. They are tired. While lamenting that the people are starving and desperate, the Candlelight boss enjoined the government to address the anguish of the people now while they can.

provide Nigerians with access to fresh, healthy, and tasty meals.

“We are honoured to receive this recognition from the Lagos Business School Africa Retail Academy. It is even more satisfying that the recognition is for ‘Best Retail Organisation in Sustainable Practice’ which is a testament to our unwavering commitment to offering Nigerians unique, healthy, and fresh meals while prioritizing sustainable practices in our supply chain and adopting environmentally friendly packaging for our products,” Balogun said.

He added; “This win further fuels our vision to be the prime destination for a healthy lifestyle in Africa and to meet the existing need for fresh better-for-you meals innovatively by improving quality management, hygiene assurance, and offering value-added services to our customers and

prospects.”

Over the last 12 years, So Fresh has been at the forefront of pioneering the healthy lifestyle and wellness revolution in Nigeria by promoting healthier eating options and habits. The brand prides itself on the mantra that food should be fresh and close to nature as possible, hence the need to create and retail fresh, tasty, organic, hygienic, and healthy food alternatives.

Since 2021, the Lagos Business School Africa Retail Academy, has been nurturing the next generation of African retail professionals, practitioners, and captains of industry.

Drawing upon the expertise of foremost academics and practitioners from around Africa, the academy paints a vivid portrait of the history, future, and present state of retail on the continent.

How Daystar Spread Love Last Christmas Rebecca Ejifoma Daystar Christian Centre in Lagos recently treated residents to “Love at Christmas”.

This was an event where indigent people and communities in the state as well as its environs benefited from the church’s food bank. According to the church’s Senior Pastors, Sam and Nike Adeyemi, “This is part of the purposeful mandate of the church to ensure that ‘no member goes to bed hungry.

“Our core hallmark is love.

We go all out to express it in and out of season. Jesus Christ modelled true love for us by giving Himself, and we also love others by giving at all times.”

Every month, the benevolence unit of the Daystar Christian Centre coordinates the distribution of food items and medical support to indigent persons in the church and different communities.

The Love-at-Christmas caps the church’s love outreach for the year, to ensure that no member of the church community goes hungry during the Yuletide season. The Christmas outreach took place across all the worship centres of the church at Oregun,

Lekki, Ikorodu, Alimosho, and Badagry.

The youth arm of the church, the Starhub, also had its version of the outreach. Together, all these reached hundreds of people across Lagos and its environs.

The Head of the Benevolence Unit of Daystar Christian Centre, Mr Biodun Jagun added, “Sequel to COVID-19, we have to comply with the crowd control rules of the Lagos State Government and do the food items distributions to specific beneficiaries through the districts, zones, and units of our church.

“In each gift pack, we have various food items that will ensure that all less privileged members have sufficient food to eat this season.”

The theatre/film unit of Daystar Christian Centre known as the Reflexions had the annual spectacular Christmas outreach tagged “Breakfast with Bros J.” The unit members assemble to reach out and celebrate Christmas with the needy across all races, ethnic backgrounds, and religions.

This year, the unit reached out to about 3,500 persons with gift items such as clothes, shoes, raw foodstuff, cooked food, toys, school bags, and educational materials for kids.

FUNKE BUCKNOR-OBRUTHE LIGHT-UP AFRICA WITH TEXA CONFERENCE Event Professionals acrossAfrica, are in for an unforgettable experience this January as organisers of The Event Xperience Africa (TEXA) Conference, have announced its 3rd edition with the theme, “The Reset.”

In a statement by the Convener and MD/CEO of Zapphaire Events, Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, the conference, an annual gathering of event professionals across Africa, scheduled to hold from Funke Bucknor-Obruthe January 17th to 19th 2023 at the Landmark Event Center, Oniru, Lagos, is geared towards equipping an ever-growing audience of African event professionals with the right tools needed to thrive in the industry.

“The event industry is an integral part ofAfrica’s growing economy and The Event Xperience Africa (TEXA) intends to build a legacy for millions of event professionals across the continent, empower newbies, emerging and seasoned professionals alike and build an ecosystem for sustainable businesses in the industry”, she said.

The statement noted that “The Reset” is the third edition in the series and it’s a come-back, after the pandemic.

Bucknor-Obruthe also noted that the conference will feature a lineup of speakers from different countries in Africa and the diaspora and will afford all attendees the rare privilege to learn, share and connect with other African event professionals to be better positioned to hit the ground running in the new year.

According to the International Speaker and Event Expert, TEXA is expected to have in attendance, African Event Professionals from Event Designers, Concert and Show Producers, Bakers/Caterers, Audio Visual experts (Lighting, cinematographers, photographers), Entertainment specialists(Musicians/Bands, Dancers), Event Planners, Wardrobe and Beauty experts, and all service providers in the industry. Interested participants can visit the TEXA website, texafrica.com for registration.

ROTARY CLUB OF AKOWONJO CELEBRATES MEMBERS, FAMILIES In the spirit, of Christmas, the Rotary Club of Akowonjo (The Achievers Club) on December 19th held a Christmas Carol and family funfair during which members showed up along with their children and wives to have a memorable evening at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Imaginative President, Rotarian Olawale Ajenifuja said, “We are here tonight to catch fun, bond, and network, noting that a lot of interesting activities were lined up for the night.

Ajenifuja reminded members of the DISCON 2023, noting, “DISCON 2O23 is gradually drawing closer as we have barely five months to the ‘Koseleri” DISCON. He encouraged all members who are yet to register and pay to do so as participants’ fees will increase after 31st December 2022, while also advising members to make provision for their accommodation in good time.

The Chairman of, the Christmas Carol Committee, Rotarian Sunday Adeosun during his speech said, “Christmas is a time to be with family, friends, loved ones, and colleagues to share love, make merry and thank God for His loving kindness all through the year.

He noted further that this year’s edition is a unique one in the sense that it is a Christmas Carol night where families of Rotary are celebrated. “As a tradition, in Rotary we celebrate our families annually and this provides us an avenue to celebrate our families at the Achievers Club this Yuletide. I wish to appreciate every member of the committee for putting this together without much ado. I also appreciate my imaginative president for allowing this committee to serve the Rotary Club.

UNN 1982 LAW CLASS GIVES BACK AFTER 40 YEARS Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia Forty years after they graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus(UNEC), the1982 Law Class has remained together. Through a strong network the 1982 Class has kept in touch with one another despite their dispersal throughout Nigeria and beyond in pursuit of their professional callings.

By now the thoroughbred lawyers have climbed onto high echelons of their profession and other endeavours. In their midst are Judges and Senior Advocates of Nigeria(SAN), as well as others holding exalted positions in public and private sectors of the economy.

On November 26, 2022, the UNN 1982 Law Class gathered at Abuja to mark their 40th anniversary. This special reunion was hosted by Rabana Lawal, SAN. As the legal men and women cast their minds back to four decades since they left UNN with the golden fleece, they also felt the need to give back to the Law Faculty where they were incubated.

In their well considered opinion the 1982 Law Class set up a Scholarship Scheme. It was solely for the sponsorship of indigent students of the Faculty to assist them proceed to Law School.

The best graduating student of the Faculty each year will also benefit from the scheme. They Class meant business and they demonstrated it: members raised over N10 million on the spot for the takeoff of the scholarship scheme.

A committee was also constituted to administer the scholarship fund with Chief Dele Edokpayi as Chairman and Ms. Christie Ezekwu, treasurer. Other members of the Scholarship Committee include Rabana Lawal, SAN, Chief Chidi Momah, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Obegolu and Sir. Azubuike Anazor.

The joyous reunion had kicked off with a holy communion service conducted by Rev. Canon Emmanuel Emeakhai of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. Among the members of the 1982 Law Class that attended the 40th anniversary celebration were their Lordships, Hon. Justice Niyi Onigbanjo and Hon. Justice Efe Ikpowanmba of Lagos and Edo States Judiciary, respectively. Senior Advocates of Nigeria in attendance were Rabana Lawal, Barth Igwilo, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu and Peter Afuba.

S

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T H I S D AY ˾ ʹ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

POLSCOPE

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The Darts and Fury of the Canticles….

Welcome to 2023, theYear of Mega Gbese Obasanjo Endorsement

Zainab-Ahmed

Buhari

Obasanjo

Peter Obi

H

has not demonstrated commitment to wooing the Nigerian people to vote for his party.

Is it not remarkable that two days after the Obasanjo endorsement, another elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the President of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also endorsed Obi? Months ago, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, 94, had thrown all his weight and that of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, which he leads, behind the candidacy of Peter Obi. It is worth noting that while the bulk of Nigerian youths are baying for Peter Obi, and are the lead vanguard of the Obidient movement, even the old folks, prized elder statesmen are also throwing their weight behind the same Obi. What is more, Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue State, the senior prefect of the G5 Class has also applauded former President Obasanjo for endorsing Peter Obi. And as some have predicted, more endorsements are on the way for the Labour Party candidate.

It is however true that these endorsers have just one vote. True. But it is also true, even truer, to say that these endorsers are leaders in their own rights and they exercise some influence and effect on those they lead.

The other hard slam against Obasanjo came from the presidency, for obvious reasons. The Obasanjo letter to Nigerians, besides endorsing Obi, had also given an assessment of the President Buhari administration and concluded that Nigerians only moved from frying pan to fire, and have been taken from the mountaintops to the valley.

Obasanjo had described the experiences of Nigerians under Buhari as “eventful and stressful” and that Nigerians are actually having a hell-onearth treatment from the Buhari administration.

Expectedly therefore, the spokesman of Mr President, Garba Shehu, had pulled out his sledge hammer to hit Obasanjo over his roles in public governance. After describing Obasanjo in despicable terms, he concluded that Obasanjo should not and does not have the moral rectitude to criticise the Buhari administration which he (Garba Shehu) said has out-performed Obasanjo’s records, adding that Buhari has had several international applauses on his boss’s efforts in office.

The rash reaction from the presidency seems to be verily angry with the messenger and not the message delivered. Perhaps one sure way of putting to test what Obasanjo said about the Buhari administration is for the president’s men to simply ask the question: are Nigerians better off today than they were in 2015?

Or to be a little more scientific, they could commission a credible and reputable body to carry out a survey in some select towns and cities in Nigeria and let them hear what the Nigerian people think and say about the Buhari administration, that is if they choose to ignore and dismiss all the vox pop which the television houses regularly air. How many speakers would Garba Shehu and his ally confront? It was Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, a few weeks ago. Now it is Obasanjo. More critics of the Buhari administration will sure file out in the countdown to the end of his administration.

Although it is pretty late in the day, what these messages should inspire among those who work with Mr President is introspection, not confrontation.

After all, Nigeria and Nigerians will remain long after the administration of Muhammadu Buhari would have expired.

e is hard-headed enough to be very used to controversies. Love him or hate him, former President Olusegun Okikiola Obasanjo remains a core factor in the Nigerian political terrain. Those who discount this fact are merely living in denial. He is fearless and ruthless.

At nearly 86 years, what should such a man yet be afraid of? A former military Head of State, a former president, a well-respected nationalist within and outside Nigeria, why should he be restrained from saying it as he sees it?

And so on New Year’s Day, he chose to do his usual: write a letter to Nigerians, “especially young Nigerians…” urging them to rise up and take back their country. It was a six-page letter that not only galvanized the youth to rise up and seize the opportunity of the moment, but also gave a state-of-the-nation assessment. Perhaps what riled more people is on the last task of his letter: the endorsement of Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate whom he said was not only his mentee, but one who has the character, competence and physical and mental attributes to confront the “taxing and tasking assignment” of national leadership. He declared that Obi “has an edge” over all the other frontrunners in the presidential race. It was an endorsement that triggered a rash of vitriolic attacks against the elder statesman.

A local proverb among my kindred says those who missed out on palace food will always dismiss it as a cold meal, just to console themselves. And that is what has played out with the Obasanjo endorsement of Peter Obi. All those who have either criticized Obasanjo for the endorsement or trivialized the political import of it are being hypocritical. If Obasanjo had endorsed them, would they not arrange church thanksgiving in celebration of the endorsement or even take up full page adverts to “pepper” the other contestants?

But because the endorsement did not favour them, they have been throwing all kinds of trash at Obasanjo and his endorsed mentee. Suddenly, Obasanjo is said to be a “paperweight”, one whose endorsement means nothing and of no political importance, worth or consequence.

Yet this is the same Obasanjo that they have all been paying homage to his home in Ota or Obasanjo Presidential Library at Abeokuta, as if it is the political Mecca of Nigeria. If Obasanjo was that worthless and inconsequential to their political fortune, why the covetous crave for his endorsement and support?

Who can, in all honesty, fault the TVCP--- (Track record, Vision, Character and Physical and mental capacity) parameters enumerated by Obasanjo in endorsing Obi? In any case, it is Obasanjo’s own belief and rightful prerogative.

If it does not matter at all, why all the fuss about an endorsement? The Obasanjo critics can discount the endorsement at their own peril.

Even Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) whose campaign for the office has never moved beyond television appearances, described the Obasanjo endorsement as “endorsement of failure”, saying that Obasanjo is an over-rated political leader in the country. Sowore, who has never organized any rally anywhere in Nigeria in pursuit of his presidential ambition, is largely seen as those who only want to be counted as one-of-the-also-ran candidates, as he

H

ow was the New Year holiday and celebrations? Did you go to your village as usual?

Noooooo. Going to the village would increase my Blood Pressure. I respected myself and hid here in Lagos What is the connection between going to the village and having increased Blood Pressure?

Ahhh, my brother, you won’t understand.

When you can no longer do as you used to do for your community folks, even as they look up to you as the man from the city with a load of goodies, your BP cannot but be on the rise. So I remained here in my little corner in Lagos.

But Mr President’s Christmas message says he has fulfilled all his electoral promises of making life better for Nigerians. Are you saying Mr President lied?

Never! Mr President cannot lie. He was just being economical with the truth. He did not clarify the point that the Nigerians he was referring to are those in his household and in his office environment. He surely wasn’t referring to Nigerians in Badagry or Bayelsa or Nigerians in Kaltungo in Gombe State, or those in Orogun in Delta State or Iragbiji in Osun State, or those in Vandeikya in Benue State. No, he wasn’t referring to those Nigerians. Check well.

I am sure you are being ironical.

Look, this is not a joking matter. Everybody has followed tradition and convention to wish ourselves a happy New Year, wishing ourselves a great and sweeter year. 2023 will be rough and tough. Just look at all the economic indices and you will want to remember Tai Solarin’s new year wish, when he said, May your road be rough” Look, this year, we don’t want naysayers. We don’t want pessimists, those specialists in seeing the bottle as half empty and not half full. Look, our pastors and Imams have prayed and decreed for a better year during the Crossover services, few days ago and we all chorused loud Amen. So, it is too early in the year for you to start killing our spirit.

Kill your spirit? Far from it! I don’t care what your pastors said or decreed. They are hope givers, not economists or realists. They are good at filling you up with hope so you can come again the next day for another refill.

But I am telling you that this year will be tough. Have you seen the content analysis of the 2023 fiscal budget?

It was just signed into law lastTuesday.

Didn’t you see the huge budget of N21.83 trillion? Has Nigeria ever got such a huge budget? It won’t be doomsday after all. Not when a nation is budgeting a whopping sum as much as $47.39 billion.

We are just about 200 million people programmed to spend N21.83 trillion.

It won’t be hell on earth as somebody once said.

You are betraying your financial naivety, I don’t want to say financial illiteracy. You should ask the critical questions of how the budget will be funded. Where will this money come from? Do you realise that in that budget, there is a debt profile of N77 trillion? Have you ever heard that before? Can’t you see it is a deep and booby trap for the incoming administration? How does a man step into office and he is greeted with a debt of N77 trillion? It is mega gbese, my brother. What is more, two days after assumption of office by the incoming President, is the end of the controversial subsidy removal on petrol. Do you know the implication of that? Inflation which is currently 21.4 % will hike further.

Transportation cost will increase. Cost of living will increase. Food items will be beyond the reach of an average Nigerian. At that point, you will remember the threat of Rehoboam to upgrade the punishment of the Israelites from being chastised with mere whips to being chastised with scorpions. It won’t be funny, I swear.

Enough of this prophet of doom. Nigeria and Nigerians will always survive.We are a country of strong breeds.

This country should have no business with this huge debt.What did they do with the huge debts? Apart from the improved rail services and the second Niger bridge, what else did they do with all the borrowed monies? What about the many billions recovered from looters which they kept announcing anyway? How come we are living large as a nation from borrowed monies? What is worse, it is from these loans that huge stealing takes place like one man, former Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, stealing as much as N109 billion? It is from this borrowed money that the Aviation minister, Hadi Sirika spent N15.9 billion to launch the logo of an elusive airline. How can it be that the higher the budgetary figures, the harsher our pains will be? With all the natural and human resources God endowed us with, we should have no business with the degree of poverty and hardship you are painting. I reject it! Do you know how much just Customs pumps into the economy per year? What about the rake-ins from the Federal Inland Revenue Service? What about the VAT collected or even the trillions of naira from stamp duty collections? Look, I am telling you that if all the knaves and thieves in government are removed Nigeria should be one of the richest countries in the world.

So how do we identify these knaves and thieves and then remove them from government services?

That will be the first task of the incoming President, if this country must survive all the mines planted on the way of the next President.

But you must be sure you have your PVC, even as I wish you a Happy New Year, whether it be rough or not.

T H I S D AY ˾ DAY ʹ˜ 2023

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Photo Editor Abiodun Ajala Email abiodun.ajala@thisdaylive.com

L-R: Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; award-winning writer, Chimamanda Adichi; and Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, during the conferment on Adichi the chieftaincy title of ‘Odeluwa’ in Abia State…recently

L-R: Chief Operations Manager, Qore, Mr. Mudiaga Umukoro; Vice President, Card Management Service Delivery, Qore, Chinwe Iloabachie; Chief Executive Officer, Qore, Mr. Emeka Emetarom; and Vice President, Lending Automation Business, Qore, Chinwe Adighiogu, at the launch of Qore in Lagos…recently PHOTO: ETOP UKUTT

L-R: President, African Bar Association (AFBA), Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo; Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; and Justice John Inyang Okoro, during a courtesy visit by the AFBA president to CJN in Abuja...recently

L-R: Osun State Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi: state Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke; and representatives of Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Olayinka David Afolabi and Hon. Bamidele Salam, during the 2023 inter-religious service held in Osogbo…recently

L-R: Security Team Lead, North West Region, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Steven Emeka; Senior Business Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Kaduna State, Maji Emmanuel; Chairman, Auto J Communication, Mr. Jerry; and Home Board Brand Manager, North West Region, Airtel Nigeria, Miss Uloaku Amaobi, at the presentation of 1,000 food packs at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Sabon Gari LGA during Airtel `5 Days of Love’ yuletide programme in Kaduna…recently

L-R: Founder of L’Avyanna, Dr. May Ikeora; Founder, Eloy Foundations, Tewa Onasanya; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Africa Asset Management Limited, Adaku Ijara; Senior Gender and Economic Inclusion Advisory Africa, International Finance Corp of World Bank Group, Ada Udechukwu; Partner, Ciuci Consulting and co-CEO, Lufodo Group, Ifeoma Monye; and Head of Marketing, PZ Wilmar, Chioma Mbanugo, at the annual Eloy Awards and Conference held in Lagos…recently

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023 • T H I S D AY

MARKET NEWS A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 04Jan-2023, unless otherwise stated.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 818 885 6757 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 190.57 191.72 0.78% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 10.81% Nigeria International Debt Fund 323.77 323.77 8.72% Afrinvest Dollar Fund 107.35 108.50 2.75% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AIICO Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A ANCHORIA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED info@anchoriaam.com Web:www.anchoriaam.com, Tel: 08166830267; 08036814510; 08028419180 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Anchoria Money Market 100.00 100.00 9.15% Anchoria Equity Fund 148.26 149.92 2.29% Anchoria Fixed Income Fund 1.23 1.23 0.01% info@anchoriaam.com ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund 22.23 22.90 9.59% ARM Discovery Balanced Fund 45.59 46.96 -89.90% ARM Ethical Fund 45.59 46.96 17.02% ARM Eurobond Fund ($) 1.13 1.13 4.09% ARM Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 15.29% AVA GLOBAL ASSET MANAGERS LIMITED info@avacapitalgroup.com Web: www.avacapitalgroup.com; Tel 08069294653 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AVA GAM Fixed Income Dollar Fund 96.55 96.55 1.52% AVA GAM Fixed Income Naira Fund 1,127.48 1,127.48 0.09% AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA Mansard Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A CAPITAL EXPRESS ASSET AND TRUST LIMITED info@capitalexpressassetandtrust.com Web: www.capitalexpressassetandtrust.com; Tel: +234 803 307 5048 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CEAT Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Capital Express Balanced Fund(Formerly: Union Trustees Mixed Fund) N/A N/A N/A CAPITALTRUST INVESTMENTS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED halalfif@capitaltrustnigeria.com Web: www.capitaltrustnigeria.com; Tel: 08061458806 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Capitaltrust Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A CARDINALSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfunds@cardinalstone.com Web: www.cardinalstoneassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 (1) 710 0433 4 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn CardinalStone Fixed Income Alpha Fund 1.04 1.04 0.09% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 14.51% Paramount Equity Fund 18.01 18.34 11.85% Women's Investment Fund 145.71 147.44 5.87% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Milestone Fund N/A N/A N/A Cordros Dollar Fund ($) N/A N/A N/A CORONATION ASSETS MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com, Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Coronation Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B N/A N/A N/A EDC Nigeria Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A EMERGING AFRICA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@emergingafricafroup.com Web:www.emergingafricagroup.com/emerging-africa-asset-management-limited/, Tel: 08039492594 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Emerging Africa Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Balanced Diversity Fund N/A N/A N/A Emerging Africa Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A FBNQUEST ASSETS MANAGEMENT LIMITED invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Bond Fund 1470.45 1470.45 12.06% FBN Balanced Fund 200.93 202.30 0.62% FBN Halal Fund 123.06 123.06 12.53% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.93% FBN Dollar Fund 120.29 120.29 6.68% FBN Smart Beta Equity Fund 167.87 170.33 1.37% FCMB ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED fcmbamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcmbassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.22% Legacy Debt Fund 3.58 3.58 -10.58% Legacy Equity Fund 1.99 2.03 14.45% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.26 1.26 4.44% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1

Fund Name Coral Balanced Fund Coral Income Fund Coral Money Market Fund

Bid Price N/A N/A N/A

Offer Price N/A N/A N/A

Yield / T-Rtn N/A N/A N/A

FSDH Dollar Fund N/A N/A N/A GUARANTY TRUST FUND MANAGERS LIMITED enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) N/A N/A N/A Vantage Equity Income Fund (VEIF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A Vantage Dollar Fund (VDF) - June Year End N/A N/A N/A LOTUS CAPITAL LTD fincon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund N/A N/A N/A Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: www.meristemwealth.com/funds/; Tel: +2348028496012 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.29 11.32 1.19% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.07% NORRENBERGER INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED enquiries@norrenberger.com Web: www.norrenberger.com, Tel: +234 (0) 908 781 2026 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Norrenberger Islamic Fund (NIF) N/A N/A N/A Norrenberger Money Market Fund (NMMF) N/A N/A N/A PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.59 1.64 1.64% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 11.46 11.63 3.20% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.06% PACAM Equity Fund 1.46 1.48 2.89% PACAM EuroBond Fund 120.04 122.72 5.30% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 123.38 123.52 0.05% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund N/A N/A N/A STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 3,668.32 3,697.44 8.21% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 245.25 245.25 4.11% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 1.43 1.45 14.29% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 332.80 332.81 6.28% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 262.11 265.32 12.23% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 13.25% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 12,357.50 12,501.41 13.15% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.37 1.37 5.72% Stanbic IBTC Shariah Fixed Income Fund 121.10 121.10 3.58% Stanbic IBTC Enhanced Short-Term Fixed Income Fund 115.13 115.13 8.23% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 01-6317876 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Equity Fund 0.97 0.99 1.31% United Capital Balanced Fund 1.39 1.42 1.53% United Capital Wealth for Women Fund 1.16 1.17 -0.03% United Capital Sukuk Fund 1.10 1.10 8.26% United Capital Fixed Income Fund 1.95 1.95 7.76% United Capital Eurobond Fund 125.44 125.44 5.44% United Capital Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 16.30% QUANTUM ZENITH ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENTS LTD service@quantumzenithasset.com.ng Web: www.quantumzenith.com.ng; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Balanced Strategy Fund 13.96 14.08 5.82% Zenith ESG Impact Fund 15.92 16.07 8.89% Zenith Income Fund 23.58 23.58 7.39% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.31% VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD funds@vetiva.com Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund 4.26 4.36 6.03% Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund 6.18 6.28 5.70% Vetiva Griffin 30 Exchange Traded Fund 18.81 19.01 6.32% Vetiva Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.90% Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund 23.75 23.95 18.74%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

119.29 52.14

5.27% 2.50%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

14.31 134.19 103.08 17.40 16.40

14.41 136.42 104.71 17.50 16.50

2.30% 5.12% 3.02% 0.96% -2.37%

Fund Name SFS REIT Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund MERGROWTH ETF MERVALUE ETF

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

N/A

N/A

N/A

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.59

0.00%

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

33

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023• T H I S D AY

NEWS

MAKINDE FLAGS OFF CAMPAIGN FOR SECOND TERM...

L-R: Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal; wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde; Governor Seyi Makinde; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose during the flag-off of Makinde campaign for second term held at Mapo, Ibadan...yesterday

Tinubu: Obasanjo Unfit to Recommend President for Nigerians Promises massive economic development if elected Urges Europeans to pay reparation on returned Benin artefacts Oyetola inaugurates APC presidential campaign council in Osogbo The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday hit back at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying the ex-president was not qualified to recommend or endorse anyone as President of Nigeria because of his failures.

While speaking yesterday, at the APC Presidential Campaign rally held at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Ugbowo Campus, Benin, the APC flagbearer said Obasanjo failed to develop the country when he had the opportunity, but rather was fighting his then vice president, Atiku Abubakar, while accusing each other of spending the country's money for their personal comfort.

The former Lagos governor was responding to Obasanjo’s new year’s letter, where he had endorsed the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and had said Tinubu and the PDP presidential candidate were not fit to lead the country at this time.

But Tinubu noted that after spending $16 billion on electricity, Obasanjo and the PDP government could not deliver electricity for Nigerians to make even popcorn.

As Governor of Lagos, Tinubu recalled how he brought Enron Power to generate electricity and solve the power problem in the commercial nerve centre of the country but the project was frustrated by the Obasanjo-led PDP government.

"I brought Enron to solve electricity problem and help Lagos economy but Obasanjo and PDP frustrated it. They punished me and Lagos people and even began deducting our money.

“I created local governments in Lagos to accelerate development and create employment for our people but Obasanjo seized our allocation and punished us for that.

“That was wickedness and such a man said he endorsed a man for you to vote as President.

Can you follow such a man? Can Obasanjo recommend a leader for anyone in Nigeria? A man who does not know the way cannot show the way."

On his main opponent, Atiku, the former Governor of Lagos said the PDP presidential candidate was not qualified to be president of Nigeria having indicted himself on his record as a civil servant.

"Atiku and Obasanjo accused themselves of using Nigeria's money to buy cars for their comfort. Atiku was a Custom officer who said he made money selling cars, that is smuggling. He

didn't even know that a civil servant cannot do any other business apart from agriculture.

That is enough to disqualify him and he is not fit to be president," he added.

On his plan for the economy and Edo people, Tinubu said it was time to eliminate darkness and make the economy of the country productive through massive industrialisation, promising to make Edo State a hub of industrial activities and an energy state.

At the very electrifying rally, Tinubu told the people that prosperity and happiness have come. He applauded the return of Benin artefacts by some Western nations but urged the countries to pay some money to Edo State having made huge money from the returned artefacts through tourism and exhibitions.

"Edo people, prosperity has come, happiness has come, hope is back in your homes, knowledge is back in your community. I am happy about the returned artefacts. They are bringing our artefacts. I support the Oba of Benin who said our heritage must come back but I disagree with the Europeans. They have used our artefacts for exhibitions and tourism for decades in their museums to make money. They should not just send them back without money. When I become President I will ask them to pay us restitution. I will contribute to the building of the museum in Benin."

On his competence and readiness for the job, Tinubu told the mammoth crowd that his administration would focus on job creation through small scale industries, build a credible credit system for capital formation, bring multibillion dollar investments to Edo State and end estimated electricity billing.

"I will turn Edo State to energy State. I will convert Yahoo boys and make them useful by converting their talents and intellects to produce chips for industries. We can defeat poverty, ignorance and homelessness. We have the knowledge, we have the brain to do it. Trust me. I am an expert in finding the way where there is no way. I found a way to tame the Atlantic and turn it to money- making machine," Tinubu said in a statement by the head of his Media Office, Tunde Rahman.

Tinubu also spoke on his motivation to make life better for the poor and why opportunities must be created for young people to move up on socio-economic ladder.

"I believe the children of boli and

groundnut sellers should become doctors, engineers, nurses etc. That was why I started the payment of WAEC fees for their children as governor in Lagos.

“If you want to become rich, elect me. If you say I should go and retire, it means you want to retire diamond and gold. Edo people, I am telling you like I say everywhere in Nigeria, elect me," he said.

In his address at the rally, former governor of Edo State and Deputy Director- General of the Tinubu-Shettima Campaign, Adams Oshiomhole, said come February 25, Edo people would use their PVC to appreciate Tinubu as a father of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

"If you want to understand why Obasanjo failed to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, it was the resistance of Asíwájú and others.

"Obasanjo also wanted to take over Lagos. Asíwájú said you can't do it. If you are a military general, I am a general of politics. He fought him to a standstill," Oshiomhole said.

He charged the mammoth crowd at the rally to mobilize their relatives and friends back home to vote for the APC candidate.

Oshiomhole also threw jibes at

presidential candidates of Labour Party, Peter Obi, and that of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, asking Edo people to reject them.

"Peter Obi is a joke," he said, adding that Obi could not address the erosion problem in his state of Anambra.

Oshiomhole said Atiku cannot unite this country.

"Someone who cannot unite his house, how can he unite Nigeria?"

Edo State APC Chairman, Col David Imuse (rtd), said Edo had always been with Tinubu and would always be there for him to ensure victory in the February 25 election.

"There is no political party that has a candidate that is as qualified as our candidate, in terms of experience, in terms of pedigree and performance."

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, APC National Woman Leader Beta Edu, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, former Chief of Defence Staff, General Olanisakin, Senator Andy Uba, among others, attended the rally.

Meanwhile, the immediate past Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, yesterday inaugurated

the Osun Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), in Osogbo.

Oyetola who is the State Coordinator, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council tasked the newly-inaugurated members of the PCC to begin to intensify efforts towards ensuring all round victory for the APC presidential candidate and his running mate,Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shettima and all APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

This was even as Oyetola reiterated that Osun would ensure the delivery of over a million votes for the party's flag-bearer in the next presidential election saying APC has offered the best candidate to turn around Nigeria's fortunes.

Inaugurating members of the Council, at Osogbo, Oyetola said no stone would be left unturned to ensure the emergence of Tinubu and Shettima as well as all the candidates of the party in the national and state assemblies elections.

Oyetola noted that the country was in dire need of a competent individual like Tinubu to build on the gains of the incumbent administration and drive the nation's potential for socioeconomic

growth and development of the country.

According to him, there was no room for experiment on the choice of next president at this critical time in the history of Nigeria, hence the need to elect Tinubu whose political pedigree, good, responsible and responsive governance antecedents are second to none.

"Our presidential candidate is not only a problem solver, he is a genius, a roadmap designer and an implementor who out of little or nothing, turned around the socioeconomic fortunes of Lagos State.

"Additionally, the team is the only one that has the required capacity and political wherewithal to reposition Nigeria by building on the gains of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration," he said.

While tasking the members of the party to remain resolute, united and unperturbed, Oyetola expressed delight in the firmness of the party's structure and commitment of the leadership and members of the APC in the State, saying it is signal to the fact that the party remains the party to beat anytime and any-day in Osun.

Agbakoba Vows to Challenge Creation of EFCC Insists anti-graft agency lacks powers to interfere in state affairs Wale Igbintade A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, yesterday questioned the existence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC), insisting that the commission currently operates outside the constitution.

According to Agbakoba, Section 214 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has not been amended to accommodate other agencies in the fight against crime, which has social, economic, financial and political dimensions.

He explained that Section 214(1) of the constitution (as amended) says: “There shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section, no other police force shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof.”

Agbakoba at a press conference held yesterday in Lagos, argued that since the EFCC was a creation of the National Assembly, it does not

have the powers to interfere with the activities of state governments.

He insisted that the 1999 constitution only provides one Police Force for Nigeria, adding that since the antigraft agency was not a branch of the Police, it could not perform its functions.

He pointed out that the EFCC was a federal establishment created by the National Assembly, adding that under Section 4 of the 1999 constitution, the powers of government are divided into two: the federal and the state.

"So the question would be, if the EFCC is created by the federal government can it then prosecute state offences?

"The Supreme Court in many of its decisions have held that federalism means two autonomous and independent governments and if that is correct, the EFCC does not have the right to go to the state and examine their accounts.

"Anybody can read section 46 of the EFCC Act and Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution. Section 36(12) states that all offences must

be defined and when you now read Section 46, you ask yourself if it complies with Section 36(12) because it does not.

"So part of the prayers I would seek in court is that EFCC ought not to exist in the first place because it is not a branch of the police and that the job done by the EFCC is the same one being done by the Police Special Fraud Unit.

"My other prayer would be whether the National Assembly can make laws for the federation and to what extent can the National Assembly which is an arm of the federal government make laws authorising a federal agency to exercise powers as if it were a state agency.

"So all these contradictions should make the presidential candidates tell Nigerians what they are going to do about the Constitution because it is defective," Agbakoba stated.

The human rights lawyer, however stressed that he was not fighting the anti-graft agency, pointing out that he remains one of the greatest supporters of the

rule of law and the fight against corruption.

According to him, the real issue was about the failure of the security agencies to obey the rule of law.

Agbakoba, however, said as a demonstration of his goodwill towards the anti-graft agency, he was ready to engage the EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, in a dialogue session on the issue.

The former NBA president said: "I do not believe that the EFCC understands the law that set them up because as a lawyer myself, I was a bit confused, as I discovered that the 1999 Constitution is structurally defective.

"I now understand why some people are saying that the country must be restructured. Whoever wrote this Constitution designed it for Nigeria to fail because, on the one hand, it seems to authorise the EFCC to interfere in state's affairs while on the other hand, it does not."

Agbakoba had lambasted the EFCC last December, over its recent actions against the Kogi State Government.

34

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023 • T H I S D AY

NEWS

FUNERAL MASS IN HONOUR OF SURVEYOR OMOIGUI...

L-R (front row): Mrs. Ifueko Okauru Omoigui; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Augustine Akugbeze; Dr. Sota Omoigui and his Wife, Mrs. Helen Sota, during a funeral mass in honour of late Surveyor Daniel Omoigui, in Benin City...yesterday

2023 Elections: I’m in Race to End Nigerians' Suffering, Says Obi Says he’s most qualified among all presidential contestants Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, said he was in the race to end the suffering of Nigerians.

Obi promised to change the condition of the country through provision of employment, adequate security, and industrialisation, and ensure unity among others.

He said he was the most qualified among the presidential contestants.

Speaking during a mega rally held in Ado-Ekiti, Obi lamented the poor economic situation in the country, insecurity, and unemployment, and promise to find a lasting solution to it, if elected.

He said the people should vote for him based on his integrity and ability to serve them efficiently, urging them to do away with any sentiment based on religion and ethnicity.

While noting that Nigerians needed a leader with vision at this critical period, Obi said, "People are suffering in this country and we want to end the suffering. Today, there is

no security and unity in the country; we will unite and secure this country.

"People are hungry in the country, our youths have no job, they don't know what to do, our youths are not doing anything, and what we want to do is to move the country from consumption to a production county. If we start to produce in the country, our youths will start to have jobs."

Obi told the people not to allow anyone to use tribe or turn to convince them on election day.

He stated, "The election is in days’ time, and I want you to vote for me, because I am the most qualified candidate.

This election is not by tribe, let no one tell you it is by tribe.

I am from the South-east, so, if they say it is by tribe, I will say it is my turn but we are not contesting based on tribe, but I am contesting as a Nigerian, who is most qualified.

"This year's election is about character and who we can trust, and because of this, I am the most qualified person in the race. We are going to

stop corruption. If it is about commitment, I have compassion and commitment.

"If it is about ability to deliver,

go and check their ages, you will see that it is between 70 and 75, while I am about 60. I have both physical and mental

energy to serve you better.

"They are making our youths to 'japa'; we want to bring you back, because we will create

the enabling environment in the country. Please, vote for me to end poverty, insecurity, and unemployment."

CSOs Knock Katsina Emir for Endorsing APC Guber Candidate Say monarch put emirate in Jeopardy Francis Sardauna in Katsina A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Katsina State, yesterday, faulted the Emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdulmumini Kabir Usman's open endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, ahead of the 2023 polls.

State chairman of the coalition, Abdulrahman Abdullahi, in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, said the endorsement of Radda by the monarch had contravened the neutrality of the emirate and subsequently put it in jeopardy.

Usman, in a statement by the

Director, Media and Publicity of the APC governorship campaign council, Ahmed Abdulkadir, titled: 'Katsina Emir Endorses APC Gubernatorial Candidate', reportedly endorsed Radda, when he received him at his palace recently.

But Abdullahi explained that the emir was supposed to maintain political neutrality and work assiduously for the betterment of the society rather than endorsing politicians for elective positions.

The chairman noted that the involvement of traditional rulers in partisan politics under any guise was not only an aberration but a desecration of the nation's traditional institutions.

"For us as civil society organisations in Katsina State, even though we recognised that the emir is entitled to his opinion, such a stand is wrong and unexpected from him.

"He (Usman) should consider the position he occupies. As a father to all, he shouldn't side with any of the candidates, because all the candidates are his sons. It is just like a father taking preference for one of his children over the rest and this is not good for the traditional system.

"If a leader of a traditional institution, an emir for that matter, can side with a candidate, that means the institution is at risk. Also,

the fatherly and the neutrality of that institution has been jeopardised.

"The implication is that people will begin to think that the emir or the emirate belongs to a given political party, because the general illusion is that if you support a particular candidate, it is equally that you support his political party."

He therefore, urged traditional rulers in the state to refrain from partisan politics and champion peaceful co-existence in their domains as well as treat all contestants in the forthcoming election equally, adding that, "as royal fathers, they should pray for successful election not endorsement of candidates."

Bauchi Emir Appoints TMG Urges Registered Voters to Collect their PVCs New Wazirin Bauchi Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi The Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, yesterday, appointed Alhaji Muhammad Uba Ahmed Kari as the new Waziri of Bauchi.

The appointment of the new Waziri of Bauchi, a senior councilor in the Bauchi Emirate Council, followed the removal of the former occupant, Alhaji Muhammad Bello Kirfi, for alleged gross indiscipline and disloyalty to the state government.

A press statement by the Information Officer, Bauchi Emirate Council, Babangida Hassan Jahun, said the turbaning ceremony of the new Waziri would be performed

Friday by the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu.

The emirate council statement stated: "The Bauchi Emirate Council fondly request the company of relatives, friends and well-wishers to the turbaning ceremony of the new Waziri of Bauchi, Alhaji Muhammad Uba Kari on 6th January, 2023 at 11:00am at the Emir’s Palace, Bauchi.”

The immediate past Wazirin Bauchi, Kirfi, was removed by the emirate council following what it was termed as “Disloyalty and disrespect to the governor of the state and the government.

It, therefore, directed for your removal with immediate effect.”

An independent civil society election monitoring group, the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has called on Nigerians to go out and collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) ahead of the January 22 deadline.

The TMG, in a statement signed by its chairman, Auwal MusaRafsanjani, said the opportunity provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registered voters to exercise their civic responsibility should be grabbed with passion ahead of the much-awaited elections.

Reacting to a statement by INEC that there were 6.7 million uncollected PVCs across 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory,

the group expressed concerns saying Nigerians must avoid a repeat of voter apathy experienced in the previous elections.

Citing data from the 2019 presidential elections, the TMG emphasised that the 6.7 million uncollected PVCs would have been sufficient to determine the outcome of an election in which the winner, Muhammadu Buhari received 15 million votes and his main opponent, Atiku Abubakar, received 11.2 million votes.

The TMG revealed that the high rate of voter apathy witnessed in previous elections must not be allowed to repeat itself in the 2023 elections as the upcoming elections will be a determining factor in the future of Nigerians.

“As we gear towards the 2023

general elections, the TMG is appealing to Nigerians to be ready to come out and vote and make a key decision that is instrumental to the formation of a better Nigeria.

“No one should wait until the rush hour; the time is now and we all are advised to collect our PVCs in time so that we can get that golden opportunity to vote candidates of our choice, electing leaders is our responsibility that no one can deny anyone but without PVC, that right will be denied; so let’s go out and get our PVCs. “Voters must also be wary of desperate politicians who would want to induce them with monetary gifts in exchange for their voter cards, Nigerians must in the upcoming elections stand their feet and follow the electoral process

from start to finish, rejecting any financial inducement or harassment,” the statement added.

The TMG also commended the electoral umpire, INEC, for extending the collection period of the PVCs as well as making a wise decision of moving the voting cards from state offices to local government areas and wards, making it easier for Nigerians to obtain the card.

The statement added: “TMG will be deploying a wide range of membership across the country to ensure an adequate and effective monitoring of the electoral process.

“TMG will adopt robust engagements with stakeholders while also initiating a system to monitor and publicize the campaign promises of the major political parties before and after the elections.

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FG'S TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON FLOOD PREVENTION VISITS LAGOS...

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Omobolaji Gaji, his counterpart in Waterfront Infrastructure Development Mrs Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi, Special Adviser Drainage and Water Resources, Engr.Joe Igbokwe, Hon Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, Head Presidential Technical Committee on Flood Prevention , Dr. Godstime James, Managing Director, Ogun Osun River Basin Authority, Otunba Olufemi Odumosu and the Permanent Secretary Office of Drainage and Water Resources, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde, during the visit of the Federal Government’s Technical Committee on Flood prevention to Lagos State in Alausa...yesterday

Omo-Agege: LG Autonomy Bill Greatest Challenge to Constitution Amendment Blames state assemblies for delay in passage Accuses Okowa of squandering Delta’s N4.2trn since 2015 Deji Elumoye in Abuja The Deputy President of the Senate, and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship hopeful in Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has said the local government autonomy bills were the biggest challenges facing the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.

Omo-Agege, who made this disclosure yesterday while speaking with newsmen after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, blamed state Houses of Assembly for failing to vote on the amendment bills on local government autonomy passed and transmitted to them

by the National Assembly for concurrence.

He however, stressed that notwithstanding the challenge of the governors and their state Assemblies holding back, the National Assembly was optimistic that the bills would be passed.

In another breath, Omo-Agege, has accused Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, of wasting over N4.2 trillion resources belonging to the state since he assumed office over seven and half years ago.

Speaking to State House Correspondents, he said, “I can tell you that at the National Assembly, we have fulfilled our part of that bargain, what is now left is to get the concurrence of 24 Houses of

Implement #EndSARS Panel Recommendations, LERSA Tells Sanwo-Olu, IGP The Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA) has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, to implement the recommendations of the judicial panel of inquiry that probed the #EndSARS protests as a means of ending extra judicial killings by police officers.

LERSA, in a letter addressed to the governor, condemned the recent killing of Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, a lawyer, and Mr. Gafaru Buraimoh by officers attached to Ajah Police Station.

In the letter signed by LERSA’s president, James Emadoye and General Secretary, Gbemi Adelekan, the body advised that on-duty police officers should not be allowed to consume, much less abuse alcoholic beverages and/or other proscribed drugs/substances.

"One of the recommendations after the ENDSARS protest was the need to do psychological/ psychiatric evaluation of police officers, most especially those handling firearms, to ensure that they are mentally capable of discharging their statutory duties effectively.

"Another recurring recommendation is the need to ensure that on-duty police officers are not allowed to consume, much less abuse alcoholic beverages

and/or other proscribed drugs / substances.

"There have also been suggestions that electronic surveillance equipment like close circuit camera, dashboard camera and indeed body-worn camera be deployed to keep the personnel of the Nigeria Police under constant monitoring and by so doing, eliminate the seemingly intractable problems of extra-judicial killings.

“Unfortunately, the failure of the authorities to implement some of these recommendations, continue to lead to the recurrence of such barbaric acts by some Police officers," LERSA said in the statement.

The body also called on both Sanwo-Olu, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, and the Inspector- General of Police, to personally ensure that some of the recommendations are implemented to stem the tide of extra judicial killings by police officers.

"Mr. Governor, we would be most grateful for your expeditious intervention with the Inspector General of Police, on this matter.

We trust that your Government with the Police hierarchy will put an immediate stop to these extra judicial killings that is becoming a regular occurrence in our peaceful community of Eti-Osa, Lekki," LERSA said.

Assemblies of the states. That is also a Section 9 obligation, but this time, imposed on the state Houses of Assembly.

“As we speak, my mistake, if I knew this question was going to come up, I probably would have spoken with the Clerk of my committee before walking in here, but I know that notwithstanding the brouhaha over this, the states have been meeting and they've been taking positions on most of these bills.

“I don't know how many right now, but the bigger challenge we have, frankly, it’s not so much all of the bills, it’s the bill dealing with the local government autonomy, both financial and administration; those are the two critical issues.

“But there are other bills, most of them have passed. We've gotten more than the required number of Houses of Assembly for some of those bills. But what matters to us, which is the priority to us, which is a big priority of Mr. President, is this issue of the local government autonomy and that's where we're

having challenges and that is because of the position of some of the governors, who believed that they should not be in support of this.

“But my personal view, not speaking for the National Assembly as a whole, my personal view, the obligation is actually imposed on the state Houses of Assembly and not on the governors and I would have expected that the state Houses will show some independence in making some of the decisions, but it does appear that… I can’t fault them for working with their governors in taking these positions, but we believe that with time, we'll be able to resolve this.

“The President of the Senate has reached out to some of the governors, most especially through my friend, the Governor of Kaduna State, to reach out to his fellow governors.

Kaduna, for instance, has already voted. Kaduna has voted and has transmitted. Of course, we won one, we lost one,” he said.

The National Assembly on March 29, 2022, transmitted 44 Constitution alteration bills to the 36 state Houses

of Assembly for concurrence.

On what Nigerians should expect from the National Assembly over President Buhari’s appeal to the legislature on his quest to sort out the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Ways and Means proposal, the Deputy Senate President said the president would have his support as usual.

“Speaking as a senator, representing Delta State and speaking as the Deputy Senate President, I have an obligation, as most of you know, to support Mr. President and this time will not be an exception. It's a decision that was taken, basically, all they're asking for is ratification. These are monies that have been expended through legitimate means, using the Ways and Means device. There is no allegation of any wrongdoing.

“Here, basically, any name you call it, they asked him for ratification of a decision that has been taken for monies already legitimately expended. So, Mr. President has my support, always has my support and he has my support on this

one and I believe that majority of my colleagues, I do not speak for all of my colleagues, of course, but I believe that majority of my colleagues will support Mr. President,” Omo-Agege further explained.

On Delta politics, he stated that, “In the last seven and a half years, the message we're saying to people is resonating; we've been able to make the case to them, that Delta State is supposedly a very rich state and indeed a very rich state.

"Given the contributions that we've made, not only to the economy of this country, but also to the economy of the state, because of the receipts we have gotten from federal allocation, inclusive of a 13% Derivation, and other resources that come to the state by way of IGR. “By our own reckoning, since the Okowa administration came into being, Delta State has received close to about N4.2 trillion and this came, like I said, by way of federal allocation, it came by way of 13% derivation and also about N400 billion that the state has borrowed.

Ondo to Benefit Immensely from Tinubu's Presidency, Says APC Chieftain Fidelis David in Akure A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State and Media Director for the APC Presidential Council for Canada, Dr. Abiola Oshodi, yesterday, said Ondo state stands to gain a lot from Bola Tinubu's presidency.

According to him, lots of developmental projects that could transform Ondo state would be prioritised and given life under a Tinubu presidency.

The Canada based Psychiatrist and the convener of the Oshodi for Tinubu /Shettima media Group, made this known in a statement ahead Saturday’s rally in the state.

Tinubu would hold a presidential rally on Saturday in Akure, to drum support for his presidential ambition.

According to Oshodi, the significance of Tinubu's visit cannot be over emphasised and couldn’t have come at a better time than when the general elections

is coming up next month.

The statement read: "He’s not coming to campaign or beg us to vote for him, he’s coming to the state to remind us of our civic responsibility that we should come out in large numbers come February 25th to vote him and other APC candidates across the length and breadth of the state so that we can be part of the history making states that will ensure that Asiwaju emerged winner of the national election.

"Bola Ahmed Tinubu is Ondo state and Ondo state is Bola Ahmed Tinubu , so his visit to Ondo state is both historic and strategic. The visit is strategic in the sense that Ondo state stands to gain a lot by virtue of Asiwaju’s presidency as lots of developmental projects that can transform Ondo state can be prioritised and given life.

"About three of such projects come to mind , the development and exploration of the large bitumen deposit , the second largest

in the world and only second to Canada must be given adequate attention under the Asiwaju presidency, the development of the seaport in Ondo south will place Ondo state within the global economic view and unleash unprecedented developments in the state," Oshodi stressed.

The APC chieftain explained that the construction of the road network that leads to the lekkiAjah corridor of Lagos state from Ondo would help accelerate the economic development of Ondo and all the three major projects can be achieved under the Tinubu's presidency.

Oshodi, who is also the Media Director, Tinubu/ Shettima, lndependent Campaign Council, ICC, Ondo state, noted that the Tinubu/Shettima Grassroots Independent Campaign Council (TSGICC) and other campaign council such as the PCC and the APC state party structure and the Akeredolu led administration

have been doing a lot behind the scene to ensure the success of the Asiwaju’s campaign rally to the sunshine state "Why Nigeria and Ondo State should vote for Tinubu-Asiwaju is the best of the lots amongst those on the ballot , he’s the only presidential candidate with vast experiences of being a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria , a two term governor and a successful one for that matter that continues till date to ensure that his protégés are in charge of Lagos state 15 years after he left office and thus ensure continuity of the blueprint that he designed for Lagos state, he’s one is the biggest investor in our democracy having built his party from the ground up with control of just one state out of thirty six and formed alliances with other progressives across the length and breath of Nigeria to form the APC that’s currently the ruling party since 2015,” he added.

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LAUNCH OF APC CAMPAIGN IN OGUN...

L-R: Chairman, All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Yemi Sanusi; Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Governor Dapo Abiodun; his wife, Bamidele Abiodun and National Leader of the party, Olusegun Osoba at the flag-off of the APC Campaign in the State at Imeko in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area...yesterday

Crisis Rocks NBA as Ex-General Sec Accuses President of Dictatorship Wale Igbintade A former General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Mr. Nimi Walson-Jack, has described his suspension from the National Executive Council(NEC) of the association as a return to the dark ages of socialism and communism when Governments sanctioned and jailed lawyers for representing persons whose activities were considered contrary to those of the political leadership.

Specifically, he accused the President of the Association and the General Secretary, Messrs. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, and Daniel Ka-ayii Kip, of dictatorship and abuse of authority.

The former general secretary in a statement titled "The Unconstitutionality and Illegality of the Suspension of Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack from the NEC of the Nigerian Bar Association", said the infamous resolution would win a gold medal in the coven of dictators, and an affront to the right of lawyers to represent the diverse interests of their law-abiding clients.

He said his suspension is an act of intimidation and harassment, which hinders his ability to continue to provide legal services to citizens who incidentally are also lawyers.

He warned that if the leadership of the NBA is allowed to get away

with the illegality of his suspension, the right of Nigerians to lawyers of their choice, and the duty of lawyers to their clients would become endangered. According to him, it would be a triumph of the whims and caprices of individuals over the rule of law.

He called on International Lawyers’ Organisations, members of the legal profession in Nigeria and abroad, the Nigerian judiciary, the media, and Nigerians to question the commitment of the leadership of NBA to promote the rule of law.

The statement reads: "The NBA at the last meeting of its NEC held on Thursday, 15 December 2022, in Abuja, Nigeria, deliberated on a crackdown on members of the legal profession who are advocating and championing the formation of a new Professional Association for Lawyers in Nigeria and resolved to take punitive measures against them.

"In paragraph 2.1(e) of its communique issued on 15th December 2022, and signed by Messrs. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, and Daniel Ka-ayii Kip, its President, and Assistant General Secretary, respectively, the NBA stated "NEC particularly resolves that a past General Secretary, Mr. Nimi Walson-Jack, who acted as a solicitor to the promoters of the new Law Society be stripped of his

privileges as past general secretary and consequently, be suspended from being a member of the NEC of the association."

"The communique is clear on the fact that the reason for punishment (if it could be called that) is for discharging a professional duty to provide legal services to members of society.

"The resolution to punish me for representing the promoters of the new law society is a return to the dark ages of socialism and communism when governments sanctioned and jailed lawyers for representing persons whose activities were considered contrary to those of the political leadership.

This infamous resolution would win a gold medal in the coven of dictators, not in the assembly of lawyers in defense of democracy and the tule of law. It is an affront to the right of lawyers to represent the diverse interests of their lawabiding clients.

"The leadership of the NBA, by its resolution, breached the Constitution of the NBA, my fundamental right to a fair hearing, and the right of my Clients to Counsel of their choice. The president of the NBA was the accuser, persecutor, prosecutor, and judge in his cause.

"It is interesting to note that a weighty issue like the suspension

of a past general secretary from the decision-making body of the association, was not listed on the agenda for the meeting, which was circulated in the morning of the meeting. I was neither informed of any complaint against me by any person, lawyer, or non-lawyer nor asked to respond to any complaint or allegation bothering on my representation, as a solicitor, of the interests of my clients, the promoters of a new law society who are citizens of Nigeria and distinguished lawyers.

"In the haste to condemn, the leadership of our NBA acted without observance of the basic procedure of listening to the other party. The president and the NEC did not invite me and did not hear from me before taking a decision that has tainted the image and reputation of the NBA. "No opportunity was given to me to make a presentation before a penalty for a non-existent offence was imposed on me. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no provision in the Constitution of the NBA that prohibits a lawyer and member of the association from supporting, advocating, defending, promoting, or representing the promoters for the establishment of another association of lawyers in Nigeria. No offence was committed in my representation

of the promoters of a new law society distinct from the NBA. "The right of my clients to counsel, the right of every person to counsel is a fundamental principle of the tule of law enshrined in global conventions, treaties, protocols, national legislation, and Rules of Professional Conduct.

By Rule 24(1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) 2007, a lawyer in Nigeria must accept any brief, provided that the appropriate professional costs are paid or agreed upon.

"The Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers adopted 07 September 1990, by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba, recognize the need for adequate protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms to which all persons are entitled, and requires that all persons have effective access to legal services provided by an independent legal profession. Access to lawyers and legal services is guaranteed. All persons are entitled to call upon the assistance of a lawyer of their choice to protect and establish their rights and to defend them.

"The NBA as a professional association of lawyers has a vital role to play in upholding professional standards and

ethics, protecting its members from persecution and improper restrictions and infringements, and providing legal services to all in need of them, furthering the ends of justice and public interest. Ironically, it is the leadership of a professional Association of lawyers that have threatened and impaired the guarantees and safeguards secured for the functioning of lawyers. It is the bar association and not the government that has improperly interfered with my ability to perform all of my professional functions.

"The civil and penal immunity I have enjoyed for 39 years as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria has been breached and violated by the leadership of the NBA, which should be defending my professional services and appearances before courts, tribunals or other legal or administrative authorities, like the Corporate Affairs Commission.

"In our country, to refuse or decline to represent the interest of a party could be considered sanctionable under the rules of professional conduct. The NEC of the NBA has colluded with the leadership to punish me for representing persons whose activities are contrary to the interests of some persons in leadership positions.

his party might not stage campaign rallies in the state following the stand-off between the state governor and PDP presidential candidate.

Wike had enacted Executive Order 21 in Rivers, which forbade all candidates of political parties from staging campaign rallies in homes and other unauthorised places. Such candidates were also required to apply for approval before embarking on any rally.

But PDP revealed yesterday that it had received approval from the state government for it to stage its presidential campaign rally.

Chairman of Publicity and Communications Committee of Rivers PDP Campaign Council, Ogbonna Nwuke, said the state government had acknowledged the receipt of N95 million in a letter of approval granted by the Commissioner for Education, Professor Chinedum Mmom, in compliance with the precautionary requirement of N5 million per public venue stipulated in Governor’s

Executive Order 21.

Quoting the approval letter from Mmom, Nwuke added, “I hereby acknowledge receipt of your deposit of N95, 000,000 into the state government’s account, being the required precautionary deposit for the use of your indicated public schools’ facilities in Rivers State.

“Sequel to your compliance with the directive as contained in our letter dated 6th December 2022, I hereby convey to you my approval of your request for the use of state-owned schools’ facilities as indicated in the annexure to your application.”

Nwuke stressed that before now, they had publicly indicated that as a responsible political party, PDP shall comply with the dictates of Executive Order 21.

“Now that we have received appropriate authorisation, following full compliance with the order, we are prepared to commence open air campaigns in Rivers State,” Nwuke said.

Continues online

CHANTS OF ‘ATIKU, ATIKU’ AS MAKINDE LAUNCHES SECOND TERM CAMPAIGN he described the APC as ‘stage four cancer’ at the commissioning of the new police headquarters in Rivers State in July 2021.

“Wike himself will also need to pay more attention to his health if he wants to continue to hobnob with the APC against the wishes of his people of Rivers State. Already, the so-called strongman of Rivers politics is appearing emaciated by the day, as he continues to work for the success of a sick and ‘cancerous’ party.

“It’s not only unpatriotic but tendentiously wicked for Wike to enter a deal to promote a candidate whose mental and physical abilities are suspect.

“His inability to sell Tinubu, a man who is yet to explain his role in the celebrated heroin trafficking case that led to the curious forfeiture of $460,000 to the American government, in Rivers State has continued to give him sleepless nights, but there is more pain for Wike in the coming days.

“The loud and repeated chants of ‘Atiku’ at the PDP rally organised

by Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan, where all the G5 governors were present, should serve as a wakeup call to the rebel governors.

The people are clearly not with them.

“For Governor Makinde, it is time to wake up and smell the coffee. Nothing can stand in the way of a moving train.”

Tinubu Tired, Has Nothing to Offer, Says Kano PDP Director General of Atiku presidential campaign management team in Kano State, Dr. Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, described Tinubu as a tired man, with nothing more to offer Nigerians.

Dangwani spoke yesterday in Kano, during the inauguration of the campaign council and party caretaker committee of the 44

local government areas of the state chapter of PDP held at the Meena event. He said PDP was the last option that would restore the peace and unity of Nigerians.

Dangwani stated regarding Tinubu, "Their presidential candidate is tired and has nothing to offer, so let him go home and rest. Nigerians will massively vote for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to restore the country's hope.

"It is unfortunate that when he came to Kano and saw a hired crowd, the candidate ended up dancing to the crowd because he had nothing to tell them."

Dangwani said, “So, the people of the Kano State and the entire country have no reason not to vote for the PDP." Deputy National Chairman of PDP (North-west), Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, inaugurated members of the campaign and management team, including the party leadership across the 44 local

government areas of the state.

In his acceptance speech, chairman of the campaign council, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, vowed that his committee would do everything possible to ensure the party emerged victorious despite the court case at the appeal court.

Shekarau urged all members of the council to embark on a door-to-door campaign, adding that the party has all it takes to turn around Nigeria and make it a country where ordinary citizens would have a sense of belonging.

Finally, Wike Approves Atiku’s Campaign Rally in Rivers Wike finally granted approval for Atiku to stage his campaign rally in Rivers State. This was sequel to a letter requesting approval for the use of venue made to the state government by PDP. There were fears that Atiku and

FRIDAY JANUARY 6, 2023˾ T H I S D AY

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NEWS

COURTESY VISIT…

Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Jere, (left) and Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Guo Zhigiang, during a courtesy visit to Jere in Abuja...recently

Military to Reintegrate 613 Repentant Terrorists into Society ,UDERU %RNR +DUDP ,6:$3 GHJUDGHG E\ PLOLWDU\ ÀUHSRZHU Kingsley Nwezeh inAbuja The military high command, yesterday, disclosed that some 613 repentant terrorists undergoing a programme of deradicalisation in Gombe State, would be reintegrated into the society by next month, February.

It said the repentant insurgents, who were expected to be released to various countries and states were to be provided with starter kits to

start small businesses and enable them start a new life.

Critics had viewed the impact of the activities of the insurgents, who were described as “low profile” by military authorities as given expression in the over seven million displaced persons and thousands of deaths of civilians and military personnel over the years and the psychological effect on the actual victims of the insurgency.

Speaking at the opening

Lagos PDP Chieftain, Awesu, Others Mobilise Ikorodu Residents for Atiku

Sunday Okobi

A Lagos State People Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and a contestant for the Ikorodu federal constituency in House of Representatives, AbdulAzeez Adekunle Awesu, and his political group in the state have called on the youths and residents of Ikorodu to support the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the forthcoming general election.

Awesu described Atiku as a unifier who needs to bring the various parts of the country together, and with the capacity to salvage Nigeria out of his economic and political problems.

The PDP contender, who is

challenging the withdrawal of his mandate at the Supreme Court, made the appeal during a massive rally he convened in Ikorodu yesterday.

The march, attended by several candidates, including former party aspirants and other stakeholders in Ikorodu, was staged to mobilise support for the PDP presidential candidate and others.

According to him, it was also staged to reassure party members and Lagos residents who have been complaining of dull moments within the major opposition party since the last rally that was organised on Independence Day by the same House of Representative’s contender.

Accord Party National Chairman Optimistic of Winning Oyo Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The National Chairman and Secretary of Accord Party, Hon. Muhammed Lawal Nalado, yesterday expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious in Oyo State in the 2023 general elections.

He said this in Iseyin as the lawmaker representing Iseyin/ Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo at the House of Representatives, Hon. Shina Peller, flagged off his senatorial campaign.

Peller is contesting on the platform of the Accord Party for Oyo North Senatorial District, which consists of 13 local government areas, spreading across 10 local government

areas in Oke Ogun and three local government areas in Ogbomoso.

Nalado while speaking at the campaign flag-off and handing over of party’s flag to Peller and other candidates from the senatorial district, asked people to see Accord Party as the primus inter pare which can rescue Oke-Ogun people from the current marginalization and current hardship being experienced in the state through their votes.

He lauded the candidature of Peller, saying: “With what I saw today, Peller will win Oyo North senatorial election and our other candidates will also emerge victorious in the forthcoming election.”

ceremony of a stakeholders’ meeting to work out modalities for the transfer of repentant terrorists to state governments, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor, said combined air

strikes and artillery bombardments, had degraded terror groups, Boko Haram and the Islamic State for West African Province (ISWAP), forcing mass surrender of 80,000 insurgents and their families and

restricting remnants to a small part of Sambisa Forest.

“This meeting is part of the activities geared towards the successful transfer of rehabilitated clients to their state government

authorities for reintegration. Far reaching decisions are usually taken at these sessions and I have been particularly impressed with the manner at which the outcomes had been implemented.

Abiodun Flags Off Re-election Campaign, Promises More Projects James Sowole in Abeokuta Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, yesterday flagged off his re-election campaign at Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of the state and where he promised more developmental projects.

Abiodun, who was supported by the National Leader of the party, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Deputy Governors of the State, Senator Adegbenga Kaka; Alhaja Salmot Badru and Mr. Segun Adesegun, said the state would witness more development

in his second term.

It was a carnival at the venue of the rally as several stakeholders, groups, associations, gathered in their thousands, to welcome the governor and his entourage.

While addressing thousands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters, Abiodun assured them that his administration’s readiness to reconstruct the Abeokuta -Afon Road.

He said: “I will commence the reconstruction before the end of the election to boost the socio-economic development of

this area.

“We reconstructed Oke-Ola road here in Imeko -Afon within stipulated period. We have been doing our projects without making noise and we will not stop doing things that would be making our people happy.”

Abiodun canvassed for votes for all APC candidates in the state, starting from its presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ogun West Senatorial Candidate, Solomon Adeola, the House of Representatives Candidate, Gboyega Isiaja and the

House of Assembly candidates.

He further promised that a School of Agriculture and Technical College would be established by his administration.

Abiodun said: “We have constructed at least one road per local government since we came into power. The last time we witnessed such was during the administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba. We will not relent in doing more for the people of the state. I urged you to go and collect your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVCs) to enable you participate in the elections.

Police Rescue 15 Kidnapped Victims from Zamfara Forest Zamfara Police Command yesterday rescued 15 persons kidnapped by bandits along Gusau-Funtua road.

The victims were abducted on Tuesday and taken away into the bush.

Briefing newsmen in Gusau,

the Command Public Relation Officer of the police command, Muhammad Shehu said on receiving the news, the command mobilised rescue operation and confidence building patrol team to the area.

Shehu said after intensive gun

battle, the criminals withdrew and fled into the forest, leaving the captives.

“The policemen in the operation team quickly rushed into the bush and recovered 15 persons comprising seven women, six men and two children.

“The victims had been given necessary medical check-up and had interaction with police commissioner for further intelligence report.

“They would be immediately reunited with their family members,” Shehu said.

Doctor’s Murder in Delta: NMA Rejects ‘Hasty Police Report’ Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has rejected what it called “hasty report” pushed out on Tuesday by the Delta State Police Command on the murder of Dr. Uyi Iluobe at his Olivet Clinic, Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State by unidentified assailants.

The police command spokesman, Mr Bright Edafe

(DSP), put out what he said was the outcome of police preliminary investigation into the December 29, 2022 killing in Oghara, shortly after a meeting between the state police commissioner, Muhammed Ari Ali and representatives of the NMA Delta.

The NMA accused the police of trying to create the erroneous impression that their colleague and victim of the attack had died in cult-related violence, a situation that could becloud

proper and full investigation into the dastardly act.

The association stressed that their deceased colleague was a responsible medical practitioner and not a cultist, vowing to protest unwarranted attacks on medical practitioners in different parts of the state.

Speaking with newsmen in Asaba yesterday, the NMA said that it was disheartening that the police would issue a report on the unfortunate incident even

before they had interrogated the paramedical staff and workers in the clinic.

According the Vice-Chairman of NMA Delta State, Dr. Anthony Okwuze, the doctors condemned, in strong terms, the hasty report by the state police command, arguing that such investigation was not thoroughly conducted and could not have represented the true position of things regarding the death of the physician.

NASENI Calls for the Revival of Technical Colleges The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, yesterday said it was time to revive craft schools, technical and vocational centres and technical colleges to train critical mass of artisans needed

by Nigeria, stressing that only countries investing in technology

can make it.

According to him, the quality of human capacity in a nation shapes and determines its progress.

Haruna stated this at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the NASENI Skill Acquisition Centre, Bagudo in Kebbi State.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari approved

construction of skill development centres to meet the challenges of technology gap and fill the vacuum created by shortage of artisans.

He said: “It is the quality of human capacity in a nation that shapes and determine its progress and sustainable development and not commodity or natural resources.

“Experience has shown that

countries that invest adequately in technology acquisition and deployment are the leaders in socio-economic development even if they import all raw material needs of their economy.”

Haruna explained that the revival of craft schools, technical and vocational centres and technical colleges will lead to training of critical mass of artisans needed by Nigeria.

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NEWS XTRA

Ebonyi APC Chair Escapes WORLD OF ISLAM Assassination Plot The Human in the Quran (I)

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Special Security Consultant to the state government, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, yesterday narrated that the shootings in Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of the state was a plot to assassinate him.

He noted that if not that one of his aides forced him inside and car and zoomed off, he would have been killed by the gunmen who ambushed him.

Emegha described as wicked, false and mischievous the reports in some sections of the media that he was using siren and shooting sporadically which provoked the killings.

He expressed confidence in the security agencies in the state, who he said would unravel the truth and bring perpetrators of the mayhem to book.

Emegha commended the state Governor, Dave Umahi, for his quick intervention into the dastardly act and peaceful leadership, which he said prevented it from escalation.

According to him, “What people don’t know is that I was with the traditional rulers who came to congratulate me on the recent award by the governor.

“After seeing the elders, I moved to where I am building a town hall for the people of my village. While I was there inspecting the building, I heard gunshot.

“As a peaceful person and a man under grace, I ordered security personnel that were with me not to respond to the shootings because it will lead to many things which I would not like, and they obeyed me and we left the community immediately.”

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the shooting may be connected with the rift between him and the APC candidate for Afikpo South and Afikpo North federal constituency, Eni Uduma Chima.

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Umahi, has assured the state that he was still considering the option given to him by the State Working Committee of APC to expel Chima from the party.

18 Burnt in Bauchi Fatal Auto Crash

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

No fewer than 18 people were on January 4 burnt beyond recognition in a fatal crash that occurred in Bauchi State.

The fatal crash, according to the state Command of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC), was reported by the Zebra 30, Toro-Magama-Gumau in Toro Local Government Area of the state.

The Sector Commander, Yusuf Abdullahi, said the fatal crash occurred on January 4 at about 1640hours but was reported through a call to the FRSC operatives while the operatives arrived the scene at 1649hours taking them seven minutes to respond.

CHANGE OF NAME

The crash occurred at Nabordo village on the ever busy Jos-Bauchi federal highway involving two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace with registration number: FKE 688, and a MAN Diesel trailer.

According to the FIR, the number of people involved in the crash was 21-three male

Adeleke: Nation’s Stability Rest on Patriotism, Sacrifices by Security Services Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, yesterday posited that the stability of the nation rests on the gallantry, patriotism, and

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as IBRAHIM AYEGBA CAROLINE FAITH now wish to be known and addressed as ABUBAKAR ZAINAB CAROLINE. All former documents remain valid. the general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ABASIAFON ETTEH now wish to be known and addressed as ABASIAFON ENOBONG ETTEH. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS AREGBESOLA OLUWATOSIN ADETOMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AJAYI OLUWATOSIN ADETOMI. All former documents remain valid.

The general public, please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OCHIE NGOZI SUSSAN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IKEGBU NGOZI SUSSAN. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MR. PATRICK THOMPSON NWADIUKOR, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. ISRAEL OBIOMA NWADIUKOR. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

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The general public, please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OJELEKE OPEYEMI OLUWAKEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OWOLABI OPEYEMI OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly known and addressed as MISS NWADIKE CHRISTIANA ANURIKA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UCHE CHRISTIANA ANURIKA. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

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adults, 15 female adults and three children-who were completely burnt beyond recognition.

The probable cause of the crash was as a result of speed limit violation.

While nothing was recovered at the scene of the accident, rescue was carried out along with the Unit Command from Toro.

I formerly known and addressed as ONOJA PATIENCE ALADI, now wish to be known and addressed as ONOJA FLOURISH EKUMJUM GODMERCY. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AKINKUADE KEHINDE CHRISTIANAH, now wish to be known and addressed as OLADEJO KEHINDE CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

7KLV LV WR FRQ¿UP WKDW AJIBOYE ODUNOLA AJOKE and AJIBOYE ODUNOLA FOLADARA is my name. All documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as HELEN AMAKA ONAH now will wish to be known and addressed as HELEN AMAKA OKERE. All former documents remain valid. Ambrose Alli University, ARM Pensions, Chartered Institute of Administration and the general Public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AFINTINNI YEMISI ESTHER, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEMOKUN YEMISI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. The general public, please take note.

sacrifice of the security and military services.

Adeleke, who spoke at the launching of Emblem for the year 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Osogbo, the state capital, noted that personnel of the armed forces in particular are in many volatile sectors of the society confronting and curtailing open and subtle threats to the territorial integrity of the country.

He stressed that for Nigerians to live peacefully, many personnel offered their precious lives, and therefore people must continue to acknowledge the contributions of the armed forces to the survival of the country.

According to him, “As we gathered here today, I reassure the military service of the commitment of our government to expand the present level of partnership.

Our administration has a security sector reform which places welfare of service personnel at the centre stage.

“Today, I recommit to the wellbeing of our service personnel. Our veterans and their families will continue to receive our support in recognition of their service to the fatherland.”

The governor, who launched the appeal fund for the 2023 Emblem for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day with N5 million, emphasised that “today is another significant period to mark and remember the unquantifiable contributions of members of Nigerian Armed Forces to the peace and stability of our great country, Nigeria.

He said: “We are gathered here as in other capital cities across the country to place our debt of gratitude on records to our fallen heroes who paid the supreme sacrifice.”

By:Zaid Shakir/Renovatio/Islamicity

T

oday, we can find answers for the fundamental question of what it means to be human that claim to cast doubt on the essential reality of our humanity itself. The Quran, however, affirms our humanness and describes four aspects of the human — our physical creation, our spirit, our natural disposition (fitrah), and our light — all of which have an unmediated origin from God and combine to make the human a distinctive and special creation.

Physical Creation

God says that He created the human with “His two Hands.” Nothing else in creation possesses this distinction. We should note that there are references in the Qur’an to creatures God created with “His Hands,” such as cattle (Q36:71). The distinction of Adam, peace be upon him, being created with God’s “two Hands” still applies, as God’s “Hands” in this verse are mentioned as having “fashioned” cattle from the generality of created things (i.e., mimma amilat aydina).

This refers to a process involving intermediaries or means. Adam, peace be upon him, in the verse we are discussing, is mentioned as being directly created by God, “mimma khalaqtu bi yadayya,” with no intermediaries. Addressing the progenitor of Satan and his dupes, (Iblis is held by many Muslim exegetes to be the father of the satans. See, for example, Abu Jafar b. Jarir al-Tabari, Jami al-bayan an ta’wil ay al-Qur’ n; also, Jalil al-Din Abd al-Rahman al-Suyuti, al-Durr al-manthur fi al-tafsir bi al-ma’thur. God says, “O Iblis! What prevented you from prostrating unto one I created with My two Hands? Were you arrogant or were you haughty?” (Q38:75).

Quranic exegetes opine that the “one” being referred to here is Adam, peace be upon him, the father of humanity. As for the meaning of “created with My two Hands,” we are told: In the opinion of some latter-day exegetes, this is an example of the great care afforded to his [Adam’s] creation. An aspect of the affair of one that is scrupulously cared for is that he is handled with two Hands. One of the implications of this is that his creation was without the intermediary of a father or a mother. Also, he constitutes a small creation within which the entire wider creation is contained. Furthermore, he is suitable [for receiving] an overflowing of favors which do not grace other than himself.

(Shihab al-Din Mahmud al-Alusi, Ruh al-mahni,).

The special attention afforded to the creation of Adam, peace be upon him, is emphasized in the comment Ibn Isa makes concerning the phrase “one I created with My two Hands.” He says, “The one I personally created,” quoted in Abu al-Hasan Ali b. Muhammad al-Mawardi, al-Nukat wa al-uyun.

Tahir al-Ashur notes the divine directness implied in the human being created by the “two Hands” of God. Commenting on this verse, he says: That is to say [it is] a special creation occurring in a single instance, in direct response to the creative command. The efficacy displayed in this act of creating is more direct than the efficacy in the creation of types of existence predicated on ordinary means such as pregnancy and childbirth. Muhammad Tahir b. Ashur, al-Tahrir wa al-tanwir.

This indicates that the human being began his journey as a physical creature with the direct, unmitigated creative act of God. Without this distinction, there is much the human shares with other creatures. For example, “God has created every beast from water. Among them are those that creep upon their bellies, those that walk on two legs, and others that walk on all four” (Q24:45). Like the birds, the human walks on two legs, although his erect torso and upright gait still make him unique. While birds walk upright, their torsos are either parallel to the ground or face downward at varying angles.

The great attention and detail paid to the creation of the human represents another unique attribute of the human’s physical creation. We read, for example: Verily, We have created the human from a quintessence of clay; then We placed him as a drop in a fixed resting place.

We then made the drop into a clot and that into a fetus. We then made bones and clothed the bones with flesh and from that brought forth another creation. Therefore, blessed is God, the very Best of those who create. (Q23:12−14) Similar narrations are found in Q22:5, 35:11, and 40:67. This level of detail is not found in the

description of the creation of any other creature in the Quran. One reason for this detailed description could be that the human is the only physical creature capable of reflecting on the miraculous processes culminating with his entrance into the world. It follows that we are the only creatures who can recognize that we have a marvelous Creator, who should be rightfully thanked for the incredible process that brought us into existence.

The Quran implores us to do just that in Q16:78, 23:78, and 33:9. The reminder of the importance of thankfulness (shukr) in these verses is for the specific blessings of hearing, vision, and understanding. The former two are the most important aspects of human physicality because they facilitate understanding and are, therefore critical means for our guidance.

As mentioned above, the most notable physical distinction of the human is his ability to stand permanently upright. God says, “Do you reject belief in the One who has created you from dust, then from a clot, then made you an upright man?”

(Q18:37; also 82:7, 32:9, 38:72). A nonphysical reality—namely, sociability—accompanies this unique physical distinction. We read in the Quran, “Remember the favor of God upon you, how you were enemies, and He placed sociability between your hearts, and you became, by His blessing, brothers” (Q3:103).

This sociability is predicated, in part, on the upright stature of the human. His heart always points outwards. As a result, when he embraces another human, the hearts of two are joined, establishing a metaphysical connection between them. For this reason, the Prophet (pbuh) has warned the believers, “La tadabaru (do not turn your backs to one another).” Sunan Ibn Majah, 3849. When believers turn their backs to one another, their hearts also turn away, breaking the metaphysical connection—a connection established by God and facilitated by their upright posture—between them.

Spirit

Man’s uprightness also makes the human being a fitting receptacle for the ruh (spirit), a special and unique creation of God. The ruh (spirit), which is breathed into the human, is not connected to nor does it emanate from the essence of God. Fakhr al-Din al-Razi emphasizes that the spirit is a distinct creation separate from the body, as we have argued, and it is aeviternal—a term that identifies creations which are similar to the temporal in their createdness but unlike them in that they are everlasting, like the eternal. This latter assertion is based on a statement in the verse that mentions the animating spirit—namely, that it is from “the amr of my Lord” (Q17:85). Imam Razi comments, “The expression amr conveys the meaning command.” God mentions, “The command (amr) of Pharaoh lacked guidance” (Q11:97). God also says, “And when Our command (amr) came” (Q11:66). Therefore, His response saying, “Say, the spirit is from the amr of my Lord”—that is to say, “from the command of my Lord”—indicates that those who had asked the Prophet (pbuh) about the spirit were asking, “Is the spirit preexisting or contingent existence?” He said, “Rather it is contingent existence, brought about by the command, origination, and creative act of God.” See Imam Abu Muhammad b. Umar Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Mafatih al-ghayb, which not only animates the physical body of the human but also his senses and intellect. His physical stature and his spirit are two essential elements that define his humanity. Commenting on the following Quranic phrase, “And when He had made him upright and breathed into him of His spirit” (Q38:72), Fakhr al-Din al-Razi says, “This indicates that the creation of the human is only complete with two things: first of all, his uprightness, and then the breathing of the spirit into him. This is true because the human is a composite of body and soul.”

While his uprightness may lead the human to exalt in what could be viewed as a unique virtue, aspects of his physical creation should also lead him to humble himself. For example, in the Quran, God reminds us, “Does not the human see that We made him from a drop of sperm?

Then lo, he becomes a rebellious disputant who sets before Us parables and forgets his [lowly] origin” (Q36:77−78). We are reminded by some who comment on this verse that our beginning, in a sense, originates from the same channel that urine exits our bodies. How could such a creature behave arrogantly?

To Be Continued

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FRIDAY, JA ;˜ ͺ͸ͺͻ ˾ T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Card-happy Referee Dumped in Weekend Games

FIFA World Cup referee, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, has been shown the red card by Spanish football authorities after he dished out

an astonishing 35 cards in his last three games.

The referee who is equivalent of trigger-happy Nigerian

policeman who goes shooting people at will, has not been given a game for this weekend's

matches and is also not one of those chosen video-assisted referees (VAR) after his last two

matches in Spain, coming off the back of his 17-card salvo in the Argentina v Netherlands

Onyekuru Bang Brace in Turkey Nigerian International, Henry Onyekuru, began his new year in the Turkish topflight scoring a brace in Adana Demirspor 6-0 defeat of Istanbulspor yesterday.

The Super Eagles winger has been an integral squad member of the stars studded side since his return to the Turkish topflight league from Greece.

After it’s slim loss against, Besiktas, Adana Demirspor were determined for the lost points starting from it’s first game in the new year against, stanbulspor Kulübü.

With just a win in it’s last five games, stanbulspor stormed the The New Adana Stadium hoping to wreck havoc and cart away all three points at stake.

However, it was Adana Demirspor that were the first to break the deadlock after, Belhanda scored from the spot, a goal which opened up the flood gates of goals.

It rained all goals for Adana Demirspor in the second half with Nigerian international, Onyekuru scoring twice in the exciting fixture to bring the final scoreline to (6-0) at full time.

Okpekpe Tops 16 Road Races in Nigeria The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race tops the list of 16 road races in Nigeria certified by World Athletics after the world body updated the list of certified road races in the world last December.

Okpekpe international 10km road race is the first road race in Nigeria to have its course measured by a World Athletics and AIMS certified course measurer and the first in West Africa to be granted a label status.

This means the Okpekpe race is the first truly world-class road running event in Nigeria after it was granted a bronze label status in 2015, upgraded to silver and now gold for the ninth edition scheduled to hold May 27, 2023in Okpekpe near Auchi, Edo State.

Also certified is the Access Bank Lagos Marathon, the second World Athletics label road race in Nigeria and its 10km component which is deemed a separate race.

Four road races have been certified in Abuja, two in Ijebu Ode, three in Kaduna, two in Onitsha, one in Abeokuta and the Osogbo Brandove Osun Women's Run 10km race.

By the certification, all performances achieved at these races will be eligible for top lists of performances, entry standards

for major championships and Games, world rankings and world records.

The 16 races have had their courses measured by World Athletics certified measurers and all hold valid International Course Measurement Certificate which lasts for five years from the date of the initial measurement.

Okpkekpe international 10km road race's certificate and that of the Access Bank Lagos Marathon will also expire in 2026.

All the four races in Abuja will have their certificate expire in 2025 while the two in Onitsha and the Abeokuta 10km race will expire this year.

Card-happy referee, Antonio Mateu Lahoz, has been sidelined in weekend matches

NFF Reads Riot Acts for Nigerian Referees, Match Commissioners Abridged NPFL season scheduled to begin Sunday moved by one week Olawale Ajimotokanin Abuja President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has warned that it would no longer be business as usual for match commissioners and referees in the domestic game,

as persons who fail to meet the high standards already put in place will be summarily ejected and sanctioned appropriately.

The NFF President made this remark at the inauguration of the Referees and Match Commissioners’ Committees

inside the NFF Secretariat, Abuja yesterday.

“We have been diligent and statute-compliant in the selection of the membership of both the Referees Committee and the Match Commissioners’ Committees, and therefore, we expect them to do

Hamadjam, Police Inspector, Emerge Winners in Opobo Marathon Hamadjam Yahaya from Taraba State and a Police Inspector, Atuoma Chidinma from Abia State have emerged winners in both the male and female categories of the 5th edition of Opobo Marathon in Rivers State.

And for their efforts, they each went home with the sum of N250,000, while the second and third positions in both male and female categories received N150,000 and N100,000 respectively as consolation prizes.

In the male category, home boy Clinton Toby finished second with Mariya Ahmed trailing behind, while another home girl, Victory Toby was second in the female race with Princess Aniete coming third.

In an interview, both Yahaya and Atuoma expressed satisfaction with their performances, stressing that it was reward for several months of practice and endurance trainings.

They both disclosed that they

game in Qatar.

Lahoz went on to book 15 and send two off in the Catalan derby last weekend and then in the Spanish Cup in midweek he sent off Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli after just 16 minutes – flashing a yellow, and then a second yellow two seconds later.

Lahoz is one of Spain’s most distinguished referees. He was famously adored by Jose Mourinho when he coached Real Madrid, and disliked in equal measure by Pep Guardiola.

His willingness to let play flow without constant interruptions for fouls given for every tackle won him support from those in Spain who were demanding a more English style of refereeing.

He was awarded the 2021 Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City and praised for his performance.

But since then he has taken his fondness for dialogue to extremes and there are complaints in La Liga that his over-communicative style breaks up play too much – overriding the characteristic he was originally lauded for: an ability to keep a game flowing.

Lahoz misses a huge programme of matches, which includes Barcelona visiting Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid playing at Villarreal. He would usually have been assigned one of the big clashes but instead will watch from home.

The decision is likely to have been based on his performance in the Catalan derby seven days prior when he also gave a straight red card to Espanyol defender Leandro Cabrera and then over-ruled himself when he consulted VAR, and when he sent off Jordi Alba having, according to Barcelona players, shown him a yellow having forgotten he had already cautioned him.

were visiting Opobo for the first time and that the marathon has given them the opportunity to know the ancient kingdom.

Yahaya particularly commended the organisers for a great initiative and called for more of such marathons across the country to

L-R: Runners up at the Opobo Marathon, Clinton Toby; Winner, Hamadjam Yahaya and third placed Mariya Ahmed on the podium with the dummy cheques of the prizes they won in the male category of the Opobo Marathon which held...yesterday.

groom more talents.

Speaking at the finishing point, the Amayanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V, who also took part in the leisure category, praised the organisers for a job well done.

He stated that apart from exposing the Kingdom to the world, the marathon will further entrench the time-honoured hospitality of the people, its rich culture and human resource across diverse field of human endeavour.

While congratulating the winners, the revered monarch stressed that participating alone was a thing of honour as marathons across the world were a crowd puller.

King Jaja expressed optimism that home grown talents would be produced in the nearest future, just as he called on companies, banks, philanthropists and other private sector players to support the Opobo Marathon.

their job with the highest level of integrity, passion, commitment and sense of duty.

“The onus is on the committees as we will keenly monitor the performances of your appointees and be dispassionate in our assessment. Anyone found wanting will be thrown out without ceremony, and be visited with further sanctions. The NFF is determined to change the narrative in the league and there is no going back. Please help us to have a new league that all stakeholders will be proud of,” Gusau said.

Chairman of the Match Commissioners Committee and NFF Board Member, Alhaji Babagana Kalli pledged that his committee will ascent on transparency and integrity in its work, while also focusing its searchlight on its appointees in order to weed out those who fail to align with the new dance steps.

On her part, Mrs Faith Irabor, who chairs the Referees Committee, asserverated that the narrative will definitely change from the umpires’ side as Nigeria football moves to implement the highest standards of probity in match officiating.

The Match Commissioners Committee also has Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi (NFF Board Member) as vice chairman, and Hon. Usman Maulud, Alh.

Aminu Mammaga, Alh. Idris Abdullahi Musa, Mr. Anthony Ugwu, Otunba Mustapha Razaq, Alh. Sabo Abdullahi Dutse and Chief Kenneth Nwamuocha as members, with Mr. Danlami Alanana as secretary.

Mallam Rabiu Umar is vice chairman of the Referees Committee, with Oba James Odeniran, Mr. Abraham Zakowi, Mallam Waziri Furo Gawe, Mr. C. C. Chukwujekwu and Mallam Bello Abubakar as members, and Alh. Sani Zubairu as secretary.

Meanwhile, the abridged format of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) scheduled to kick off this Sunday has been moved forward by one week.

However, sources close to the Interim Management Committee (IMC) on the league hinted last night that the opening fixture between Akwa United and newly promoted Bendel Insurance FC of Benin City will go ahead as scheduled.

Before reaching a compromise for the league to take off next weekend, there was a deadlock between the clubs and the IMC on the expected reforms in the NPFL. But the NFF leadership however brokered peace before the 20 clubs accepted to start the new season next weekend.

Friday January 6, 2023

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& REASO

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Price: N250

MISSILE SMBLF to DSS DG, Yusuf Bichi “It is unthinkable that the DSS would recklessly and carelessly accuse CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, of financing terrorism and involvement in economic crimes of national security dimension. Now, if indeed, President Buhari was not aware of the plot, then, it would be inexcusable to allow Mr. Yusuf Bichi remain a moment longer in office as DSS DG” –Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum, calling on President Buhari to sanction the DSS DG, Bichi.

OKEYIKECHUKWU Obiozor and Ojo Maduekwe in Israel EDIFYING ELUCIDATIONS

okey.ikechukwu@thisdaylive.com

T

he demise of Prof George Obiozor, the scholar, diplomat and socio-cultural leader is perhaps a good occasion to go back to an Obiozor/Ojo narrative that goes back 21 years. It was a full-week encounter with Obiozor when, as Special Assistant to the then Minister of Transport, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, we visited Israel alongside some directors of the Federal Ministry of Transport and some management staff of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Obiozor was then Nigeria’s Ambassador to Israel and he rose to the occasion.

Our trip, officially designated a scheduled initiative to find areas of collaboration between the Nigerian and Israeli maritime sectors, turned out to be a full-blown State Visit. This latter development was orchestrated less by the Nigerian government and more by a very powerful Israeli business man. He controlled an incredible business network, a broad-based political empire spanning several continents and wielded unbelievable leverage of various types. He saw and treated Chief Maduekwe as the greatest and most dependable and selfless Nigerian alive, but more of that later.

Prof George Obiozor, the scholar, diplomat and, until last week President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has left the flesh. He left with a political/ intellectual orientation and temperament that is at once iconic and not easy to find in the academia, the diplomatic community and in cultural politics in Nigeria today. He was a man of strong and, sometimes questionable, views. He was, at all times, unrepentant in his belief in one united Nigeria, wherein equity was the grund norm. His contempt for mediocrity was well known. So, also, was his tendency to occasionally give short shrift to points of view he found irksome, even at the risk of being less than sensitive to possible middle grounds.

George Obiozor often held unto, and robustly defended, his certainties; even in the face of other equally robustly defended contending certainties. He would, with his raucous laughter and cheerful good humour, query “the certainty of the certain” as he dismisses an unacceptable standpoint with his favourite exclamation: “Ajo anu! This expression, strictly translated into English or any other language, means ‘bad meat’. But it is often used in such a way as to connote the type of dismissive “indeed”, or “oh really”, a mother would say to her little boy who just declared himself the strongest man in the world.

As university teacher, adviser to government at the highest levels, diplomat to several countries and as President-General of the sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, he was no stranger to controversies. He, like Ojo Maduekwe, even sometimes courted them. Never cowed by a loud voice from the opposite side of any table, Obiozor will not miss an opportunity to say to somebody: “Go and sit down somewhere and stop making noise”, if he felt that he needed to do so. And therein lies that sometimes titillating and sometimes offensive, quality of his personality that made him the unique man he was.

Obiozor loved life. He lived it to the fullest, the way he understood and preferred it. But it

Obiozor

Maduekwe

is now over for him on this earth plane, as it will eventually be for all of us at some point in our personal history. We may have observations and comments about anyone, but none of us is competent to judge the life of another, for good or bad. We should ideally only emulate the good we see in others, living or departed, and pray for them and pray for ourselves. Back back to the trip to Israel.

Obiozor rolled out everything the Nigerian Mission had to offer. He was an absolute delight as host. His jokes were unending and he found in Ojo a welcome intellectual counterpoise and counterpoint for his, perhaps starved, discursive impulses – especially the combative dimensions of those impulses. Every issue was open for discussion and debate, just as every Nigerian dish was available on Obiozor’s dining table after our official engagements each day. The bitter leaf soup and pounded yam that came out of his kitchen was exactly an experienced old woman from Anambra State will give you.

But it was really The State of Israel that took such complete charge of everything. At a point one of the Directors from the Federal Ministry of Transport who was on the trip with us openly asked rhetorically: “What did Ojo do for Israel? One of the men from NPA was also at a loss and that the Israeli whom he expected people to be angry with Ojo, for the effect of his “anti-corruption extremism” on some of their businesses we falling over themselves and treating him as a hero.

What they did not know was that it was precisely Ojo’s “anti-corruption extremism” that got him the dignified treatment he was receiving in Israel. And it could all be traced back to the influential Israeli man following the series of very interesting encounters he had with Ojo Maduekwe about a year earlier.

This man, who had an old and stable relationship with the maritime sector before Ojo came on the scene as Minister, was instrumental to our visit to Israel. His company had been awarded a contract of about twenty-million-dollars (yes, dollars) in one of the parastatals of the Ministry of Transport. Ojo, on seeing the contract sum

and the details of the work to be done, refused to sign off on it. He queried the process based on what he called “a hunch”. And, without any concrete grounds for stepping the file down, he asked the management and leadership of the parastatal to carry out a comprehensive review of the contract. Reason: he “was sure” that the contract was “seriously” inflated. They did, brought the files back with a lower figure and Ojo was still not satisfied.

In the end, and after very trying exchanges with the parastatals and the minister, the contract was awarded for less than fifteen million dollars!

In all of this, and while the toing and froing lasted, the Israeli man always had a calm, patient and somewhat bemused smile and air about him each time he came around. He was the very soul of patience, calm personal dignity and unhurried simplicity. He was, to put mildly, a reflection of his somewhat naturally diminutive physical form in comportment and tone.

Months later, that is after the contract had been properly executed and the company paid, the Israeli businessman came one night to the house see Ojo. The latter was in no hurry to see him. So, it was well past midnight before the Minister finally deigned to suggest that I accompany him to meet with the only visitor still waiting in the parlour downstairs; since the man would not take the hint and go back to his hotel room, or his country.

Formalities over, the man thanked the Minister for his “stubbornness” and for making him see what else was possible in Nigeria. He made some very telling comments about government, governance and government functionaries in Nigeria, pointing out that our country would be a much better place if we had just a few more people who lived and worked like Ojo Maduekwe. As he made to go after further exchanges, Ojo told him that he had a request to make of him. The man demurred, saying, “Anything for you, Minister. You are a truly remarkable man”.

Then Ojo said: “I appreciate your comments and I pray that my country becomes the dream I know it has the potentials to become. Now,

my request is that if you truly respect me and wish my country well, please do me the personal favour of paying back one million dollars from your profit into our national coffers here in Nigeria. The man starred at Ojo in consternation. Before he could find his voice, Ojo continued: “You see, I am almost sure that whatever was involved in this contract could not have cost your company more than six million dollars to execute, but I lack the personal technical capacity to confirm it. So, since you have already made your profit and you have expressed such good thoughts about my country, I would like you to oblige me in this as a very personal favour” The man, unceremoniously and now assuming a somewhat commanding air, sat back in his chair and said to Ojo: “You are truly a most unusual, and perhaps a little reckless, man.

What some of your colleague ministers would have asked of me in a situation like this would have been to give the money you are talking about to them personally”. Forthwith, the man assured Ojo that he would do as requested and come back to show him the receipt. When Ojo later told me that he did, we cheered in real joy!

But you should have seen the derisive laughter that greeted us when, on the night under reference above, my boss proudly announced his achievement as we went back to rejoin his sibling and one or two very intimate who usually left very late on most nights. “Chai, Ojo and his SA! one of them exclaimed after hearing what transpired. Another went on “Others are carrying Ghana-must-go bags from their garage at this time of the night, but you people are celebrating how much money you have saved for Nigeria. You haven’t told us yet whether you are the ones who spoilt this country”.

It was when we got to Israel that we realized that the small man who would come in and sit quietly in a corner, either in the office or in the minister’s residence, was practically a deity in his country. He smoothed all that we needed to do at the Port of Ashdod and the Port of Haifa. His ever diligent and tireless colleague, Eshel, whom I found out to be a reserve senior officer in the Israeli military (like every Israeli adult male), was always at hand to held in every way. It was Eshel who, at one of the receptions, invited me to “break bread” in the Jewish fashion. This was also at the insistence of several old and not so old Israelis at a section of the clearing, who never stopped looking at me: and whom I learnt said I break bread and bless them.

The most important of the dinners to which we were hosted, and to which the highest and best of Israel came, took place under a two-thousand-years-old olive tree, which we learnt was the oldest in Jerusalem. this ended one week of a revitalized Obiozor in Israel, during which time he debated all debatables with Ojo Maduekwe.

Both men are no more. But there is an unmistakable fervour about them we shall continue to miss in this era of tepid political manhood.

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